employment

noun

em·​ploy·​ment im-ˈplȯi-mənt 

1

: use, purpose

2

a

: activity in which one engages or is employed

seeking gainful employment

b

: an instance of such activity

c

: the extent or degree to which a labor force is employed

Employment is high.

3

: the act of employing : the state of being employed

employment of a pen in sketching

Synonyms

• application
• exercise
• operation
• play
• usage
• use

Choose the Right Synonym for employment

work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living.

work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

Examples of employment in a Sentence

laws that have encouraged the employment of women

I've been looking for employment in the machine trade.

The new factory should provide employment for hundreds of workers.

unskilled workers trying to find paid employment

She hopes to find employment as a teacher.

The magazine did well during the course of her employment as editor.

Employment is at an all-time high in this part of the state.

The city is faced with inadequate housing and a lack of employment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even President Joe Biden’s big spending in 2021 took place in an economy with depressed employment, and the inflationary impact was further mitigated by a surge in immigration, which expanded the labor force and helped create the capacity to meet higher demand. —Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

The data, sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, includes average income, percentage of employment, job creation and job destruction, with each state ranked for its overall performance across these key areas. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

While programs such as the Works Progress Administration provided a crucial source of employment, most Black workers remained largely shut out of the Social Security system and unprotected by wage and hour regulations. —Ben Zdencanovic, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024

The city’s healthcare sector leads professional employment growth at 5.2%, anchored by the Texas Medical Center – the world’s largest medical complex. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English employement "expenditure of funds," from emploien "to apply to a task, employ entry 1" + -ment -ment

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing employment

• employment agency
• employment history
• pre-employment
• re-employment
• self-employment

Kids Definition

employment

noun

em·​ploy·​ment im-ˈplȯi-mənt 

1

: use entry 1 sense 1a, purpose

also : the act of using

2

a

: the act of hiring a person for work

b

: the job for which one is hired : occupation

c

: the state of being employed

employment in the machine trade

d

: the relative number of persons in a labor force who are employed

employment is high

Legal Definition

employment

noun

em·​ploy·​ment

1

: an activity or service performed for another especially for compensation or as an occupation

2

: the act of employing : the state of being employed