unemployed
adjective
un·em·ployed
ˌən-im-ˈplȯid 
: 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
Before Apricity, Koehler bounced between jobs and was unemployed for two years.
—
Miranda Dunlap, jsonline.com, 13 Feb. 2026
There are many people who are unemployed or underemployed.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Yes, some people might be heels but the majority have come to understand that being unemployed is a status, not a personality type.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, a relatively small fraction of American adults are unemployed and looking for work.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unemployed
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Miranda Dunlap, jsonline.com, 13 Feb. 2026
There are many people who are unemployed or underemployed.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Yes, some people might be heels but the majority have come to understand that being unemployed is a status, not a personality type.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, a relatively small fraction of American adults are unemployed and looking for work.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unemployed
Cite this Entry
“Unemployed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployed. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unemployed
adjective
un·em·ployed
ˌən-im-ˈplȯid
1
: not being used
unemployed tools
2
: not employed : having no job
unemployed workers
unemployed
noun
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