unpaid

adjective

un·​paid ˌən-ˈpād How to pronounce unpaid (audio)
Synonyms of unpaidnext
1
: not paid
an unpaid volunteer
2
: not paying a salary
an unpaid position

Synonyms of unpaid

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Examples of unpaid in a Sentence

I have a pile of unpaid bills sitting on my desk. The city is trying to collect unpaid taxes. She took three months of unpaid leave from her job. I served as an unpaid consultant on the project.
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.
Redzepi, arguably the world’s top chef, had for years been dogged by reports of mistreatment of his staff, as well as his yearslong use of unpaid interns to staff the pricey restaurant. — James Brooks, Fortune, 30 July 2026 Saudi clubs are now reportedly bracing for player lawsuits over unpaid wages after PIF budget cuts. — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 30 July 2026 Social media posts have claimed residents were contacted about unpaid taxes, even though they had been paid, claiming that's how the employee stole funds. — Erika Stanish, CBS News, 30 July 2026 Elliott has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, according to CMPD. — Noah Vinsky, Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unpaid

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unpaid was in the 14th century

Rhymes for unpaid

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Browse Nearby Words

unpaged
unpaid
unpaid-letter stamp
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Cite this Entry

“Unpaid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpaid. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unpaid

adjective
un·​paid ˌən-ˈpād How to pronounce unpaid (audio)
1
: not paid
an unpaid volunteer
2
: not paying a salary
an unpaid position

More from Merriam-Webster on unpaid

Nglish: Translation of unpaid for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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