employment

noun

im-ˈplȯi-mənt How to pronounce employment (audio)
Definition of employmentnext
1
as in use
the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the employment of the kitchen oven as a storage cupboard had predictably disastrous results

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in profession
the activity by which one regularly makes a living his regular employment is that of a restaurant waiter, but he always identifies himself as an actor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in employ
the state of being provided with a paying job the parents tried to convey to their adult son the joys of steady employment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun employment differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of employment are business, calling, métier, occupation, pursuit, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

When is business a more appropriate choice than employment?

While in some cases nearly identical to employment, business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

When would calling be a good substitute for employment?

In some situations, the words calling and employment are roughly equivalent. However, calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

When can métier be used instead of employment?

The meanings of métier and employment largely overlap; however, métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

In what contexts can occupation take the place of employment?

While the synonyms occupation and employment are close in meaning, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

When is it sensible to use pursuit instead of employment?

The words pursuit and employment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

When might work be a better fit than employment?

Although the words work and employment have much in common, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of employment The selection of Doral’s police chief falls under the authority of City Manager Zeida Sardiñas, though the City Council must approve the employment agreement. —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026 My decision to end the employment relationship with the executive wasn’t a surprise to them. —Hector Colon, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 While large employment sites still attract substantial traffic, many candidates rely on a range of platforms, including professional networking sites, industry-specific boards and social media, to find the right job openings. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 18 May 2026 Interim Superintendent Jennifer Perry and the Board of Education announced Friday that the district had terminated Brenda Smith's employment because of the law firm's findings in the new report. —Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for employment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for employment
  1. use
  2. profession
  3. employ
  4. application
  5. occupation
  6. tenure
  7. exercise
  8. vocation
Noun
  • Whether your husband is into gadgets, travel, grilling, or simply appreciates things that make everyday life easier, these are the gifts that actually get constant use in my house — and will make Father’s Day feel a little more memorable this year.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
  • That rally ended in sudden disruption that experts later said involved the use of a sonic weapon against peaceful demonstrators.
    — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
Definition of use
Noun
  • Amar hoped to enter the medical profession.
    — Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • She's turned her passion into a profession by teaching at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota, for the last 11 years.
    — Marielle Mohs, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Definition of profession
Noun
  • The league doesn’t hire, employ or fire those who work for a team.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 May 2026
  • Calculating the interest-earning potential of a high-yield savings or money market account over the short term is relatively straightforward, since the variable rate each employs isn't likely to move dramatically in just a few months.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Definition of employ
Noun
  • Mamdani intends to cut the median time for approvals from 210 to to 100 days via a mix of simplifying income verification, speeding up the process for lottery winners to be selected, and streamlining the applications, among other things.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026
  • This included implementing an electronic application process and introducing a mobile application center designed to make the hiring process more efficient and accessible to prospective applicants.
    — Joy Lepola-Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
Definition of application
Noun
  • My occupations have given me a happy, humble, quiet life, but always nagging in the back of my mind has been a case of impostor syndrome.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
  • The resistance, the collaboration, the occupation — these things tremendously marked and traumatized the continent, especially France.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 17 May 2026
Definition of occupation
Noun
  • Kidd’s five-year coaching tenure in Dallas was a roller coaster.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2026
  • Books will remain books, and movies based on books will keep getting made, but the pipeline between publishing and film has changed almost beyond recognition during Clarke’s tenure.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Definition of tenure
Noun
  • In an interview with the website Public Parking, the writer Lucy Ives describes ad-libbing a writing exercise to kill an awkward classroom silence.
    — David O’Neill, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
  • This is an exercise in making a mess and having fun, and then cleaning it up and making meaning, and then doing that all again three times.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Definition of exercise
Noun
  • Integrity and devotion Stoner’s commitment to intellectual integrity and devotion to his vocation shapes his moral core.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
  • Indeed, Kang as a civilian seemingly cannot separate herself from her vocation as a narrator.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
Definition of vocation

Browse Nearby Words

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employments
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Cite this Entry

“Employment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/employment. Accessed 25 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on employment

Nglish: Translation of employment for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about employment

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