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.
The program is open to those with W-2 income, Social Security income, as well as unemployment compensation and some other sources of income. —Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 3 Oct. 2024 Eddie Taveras-Cruz, 40, was charged Tuesday with one count each of first-degree larceny by defrauding a public community and unemployment compensation fraud, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2024 The number of unemployed rose 16.1% versus one year ago to 28,900 while new unemployment compensation claims fell 2.8%, to 3,024. —Ricardo Torres, Journal Sentinel, 13 May 2024 That rule applies to wages and overtime, but not unemployment compensation. —Scott Bauer, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near unemployment compensation

unemployment

unemployment compensation

unemployment insurance

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Unemployment compensation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployment%20compensation. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about unemployment compensation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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