General
unretirement
What does unretirement mean?
The act of re-entering the workforce after retiring, whether for financial reasons, boredom, or a desire for purpose and social connection.
"He came out of unretirement to consult two days a week because full-time golf got dull."
Origin
Coined as the counterpart to retirement; grew common in labor and economics coverage in the 2020s.
Frequently asked questions
What is unretirement?
It's returning to the workforce after having retired, whether for money, boredom, or a sense of purpose and social connection.
Why do people unretire?
Common reasons include needing income, missing structure or purpose, or wanting the social connection that work provides.
When did the term unretirement become common?
It grew common in labor and economics coverage during the 2020s as more retirees returned to work.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
