employee

noun

em·​ploy·​ee im-ˌplȯ(i)-ˈē 

(ˌ)em-;

im-ˈplȯ(i)-ˌē 

em-

variants or less commonly employe

: one employed by another usually for wages or salary and in a position below the executive level

Synonyms

• hand
• hireling
• jobholder
• retainer
• worker

Examples of employee in a Sentence

A good boss listens to his employees.

The company has more than 2,000 employees worldwide.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L Fleece $58 $39 at Lululemon The employee who proposed making the uber-popular Everywhere Belt Bag in a textured, feel-good fleece — it’s made of recycled polyester and nylon — definitely deserves a raise. —Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2024

So, there is a clear need to create re-skilling programs that would inspire employees to re-evaluate their approach to self-education. —Hilary Tetenbaum, The Enquirer, 28 Nov. 2024

The 2016 transition had about 120 employees on the books and hauled in $2.4 million in reimbursements from the federal government. —Gabe Kaminsky, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Nov. 2024

Culinary union officials sent a letter to LiUNA leaders criticizing Virgin’s hiring of temporary workers to replace striking union employees. —Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

employ entry 1 + -ee entry 1, perhaps after French employé

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

employee

noun

em·​ploy·​ee im-ˌplȯi-ˈē  (ˌ)em- 

im-ˈplȯi-ˌē,

em-

: one who works for another for wages or a salary

Legal Definition

employee

noun

em·​ploy·​ee

variants also employe

: a person usually below the executive level who is hired by another to perform a service especially for wages or salary and is under the other's control see also respondeat superior compare independent contractor

Note: In determining whether an individual is an employee, courts look at several factors, including the nature of the compensation paid, provision for employee benefits, whether the hired party is in business, tax treatment of the hired party, source of the equipment used, and location of the work. Statutes, such as workers' compensation acts and labor laws, usually include a definition of employee as it is used in the statute.