unemployed

adjective

un·​em·​ployed ˌən-im-ˈplȯid How to pronounce unemployed (audio)
Synonyms of unemployednext
: 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.
In Land and Freedom, Ian Hart stars as David Carr, an unemployed man from Liverpool who travels to Spain in 1936 to help in the fight against Franco’s Nationalists. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 May 2026 Meanwhile, many men who didn't get a college education have been struggling economically, and have been much more likely to end up on drugs, in prison, and unemployed. Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 19 May 2026 But actually, graduates are still the least likely to be unemployed right now. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 17 May 2026 One set of remains was that of a 17-year-old high school student who had gone out to sell his motorcycle to help his unemployed uncle. Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unemployed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployed. Accessed 25 May. 2026.

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

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