Abstract: The influence of the locked-in stress on the rock mechanical properties cannot be ignored. Since Chen Zongji proposed the definition of the locked-in stress in rocks, there were very few related studies. Starting from the definition, combined with the current development of the rock mechanics, this paper expands the concept of the locked-in stress，in a new definition of the locked-in stress in rocks. The forms of the stress in accordance with the new definition of the locked-in stress in the rock mechanics research are classified. The variation law of various kinds of locked-in stress and its empirical formula are summarized. The correlation between the locked-in stress and the excavation of the underground engineering and its influence are discussed. This paper provides a new way to explain the special phenomenon of deep rock mechanics.