# furlough

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈfɜː.ləʊ/ · frequency rank #39,330

## Definitions
1. A leave of absence or vacation.
2. A leave of absence or vacation.
3. The documents authorizing such leave.
4. A period of unpaid time off, used by an employer to reduce costs.

## Etymology
From Dutch verlof (“furlough”), probably from Middle Low German verlōf (“furlough, permission”) (possibly via German Verlaub), from the verb verlōven (“to allow”), from Old Saxon far- + lōvian (“to trust, believe”). From Middle Low German also German Verlaub, Danish forlov. Doublet of leave.

## Easily confused with
- **furlong** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/furlong-vs-furlough)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ffurlough`, `frulough`, `fulrough`, `furllough`, `furloguh`, `furlouggh`, `furloughh`, `furlouhg`, `furluogh`, `furolugh`, `furrlough`, `ufrlough`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/furlough