unemployed

adjective

un·​em·​ployed ˌən-im-ˈplȯid 

: 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

Synonyms

• jobless

Examples of unemployed in a Sentence

the plant closings left a significant portion of the town's population unemployed

Recent Examples on the Web

Total sample size was 2,407 U.S. adults, of whom 1,331 were working full-time, part-time or temporarily unemployed. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 2 Nov. 2024

The number of people who have been unemployed for 15 weeks or more is up by about 20% since then, as well. —Rob Wile, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2024

Despite this, Disabled people are twice as likely to be unemployed in the U.S., and those with intersectional identities face even higher rates. —Keely Cat-Wells, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024

The report also delves into how to help adults enroll in or return to college, such as: 🗣 Allocating resources to offer college and career advising to underemployed and unemployed residents. —Steph Solis, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unemployed

• the unemployed

Kids Definition

unemployed

adjective

un·​em·​ployed ˌən-im-ˈplȯid 

1

: not being used

unemployed tools

2

: not employed : having no job

unemployed workers

unemployed noun