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

Last year was a tough one for job seekers, who on average were unemployed for 23.3 weeks in December, up from 19.4 in December 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. —Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Also, the number of people who have been unemployed for more than six months edged lower in December to 1.55 million, snapping a four month rise. —Jill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025

Newly unemployed after being fired in disgrace, Hamm’s character turns to stealing from his neighbors’ homes to keep up his affluent lifestyle. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025

Meanwhile, the German federal labor office said the number of unemployed people increased by 33,000 to 2.807 million in December compared to the previous month. —Karen Gilchrist,sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2025

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