unemployed

adjective

un·​em·​ployed ˌən-im-ˈplȯid How to pronounce unemployed (audio)
: not employed:
a
: not being used
unemployed machines
b
: not engaged in a gainful occupation
an unemployed teacher seeking work
15% of the workforce was unemployed.
c
: not invested
unemployed capital
unemployed noun

Examples of unemployed in a Sentence

the plant closings left a significant portion of the town's population unemployed
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Total sample size was 2,407 U.S. adults, of whom 1,331 were working full-time, part-time or temporarily unemployed. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 2 Nov. 2024 The number of people who have been unemployed for 15 weeks or more is up by about 20% since then, as well. Rob Wile, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2024 Despite this, Disabled people are twice as likely to be unemployed in the U.S., and those with intersectional identities face even higher rates. Keely Cat-Wells, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024 The report also delves into how to help adults enroll in or return to college, such as: 🗣 Allocating resources to offer college and career advising to underemployed and unemployed residents. Steph Solis, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unemployed 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unemployed was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near unemployed

Cite this Entry

“Unemployed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployed. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

unemployed

adjective
un·​em·​ployed ˌən-im-ˈplȯid How to pronounce unemployed (audio)
1
: not being used
unemployed tools
2
: not employed : having no job
unemployed workers
unemployed noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unemployed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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