unemployed

adjective

un·​em·​ployed ˌən-im-ˈplȯid How to pronounce unemployed (audio)
Synonyms of unemployednext
: 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 of unemployed

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Examples of unemployed in a Sentence

the plant closings left a significant portion of the town's population unemployed
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
According to court records, Conahan, an unemployed nurse, lured Montgomery into the woods in northern Charlotte County to take nude bondage photos. — Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 Students and unemployed youth in Jharkhand, one of India’s poorer states, launched the protests late last month over the alleged wrongdoing including recruitment test paper leaks. — Reuters, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026 Economic disparity Government data say women are more likely than men to be unemployed, shoulder unpaid care work and remain underrepresented in senior leadership. — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 But the numbers also revealed that unemployment only declined because many unemployed workers simply gave up trying to find a job, or retired. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unemployed

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unemployed was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing unemployed

Rhymes for unemployed

See All Rhymes for unemployed

Browse Nearby Words

unemployable
unemployed
unemployment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unemployed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployed. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unemployed

adjective
un·​em·​ployed ˌən-im-ˈplȯid How to pronounce unemployed (audio)
1
: not being used
unemployed tools
2
: not employed : having no job
unemployed workers
unemployed noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unemployed

Nglish: Translation of unemployed for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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