unemployment compensation

noun

: compensation paid at regular intervals (as by a government agency) to an unemployed worker and especially one who has been laid off

called also unemployment benefit

Examples of unemployment compensation in a Sentence

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.
Don't simply ignore it—remember that unemployment compensation is taxable. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 The big picture: The number of federal employees filing initial claims for unemployment compensation has risen sharply in the District since President Trump took office and Elon Musk's DOGE began its purge, per Department of Labor data. Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025 For those who have received unemployment benefits, make sure to have Form 1099-G ready, which details your unemployment compensation. Tiffany Grant, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 Federal workers can apply for unemployment compensation for federal employees (UCFE), which is administered by the states and the same as regular unemployment insurance benefits, the Department of Labor said. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unemployment compensation

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unemployment compensation was in 1935

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Cite this Entry

“Unemployment compensation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployment%20compensation. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

Legal Definition

unemployment compensation

noun
un·​em·​ploy·​ment compensation
: compensation paid at regular intervals (as by a state agency) to an unemployed worker and especially one who has been laid off

called also unemployment benefit

Note: Unemployment compensation is usually a fixed percentage of the former wages of an unemployed worker.

More from Merriam-Webster on unemployment compensation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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