unemployed
uh-nihm-PLOYD
Unemployed (adj) means Without a job, despite being able and willing to work. Example: “My cousin is unemployed at the moment, but he has several interviews next week.”
adj
1
Without a job, despite being able and willing to work.
"My cousin is unemployed at the moment, but he has several interviews next week."
"Being unemployed for months made her question her skills."
"The government announced a new initiative to help the unemployed."
"Several special types of unemployed workers are described. These include nonmodal workers, threshold workers, "the unemployables", and the physically handicapped."
— United States. Bureau of Employment Security, Employment Security Review (1934)
"He's been unemployed since the factory closed down."
"The number of unemployed keeps rising steadily."
noun
1
People without jobs, considered as a group.
"The charity runs free training courses for the unemployed."
"Many of the unemployed in this town are looking for work in healthcare."
"The government announced new support for the unemployed."
How to use unemployed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWithout paid work.
Common pairings
long-term unemployed
newly unemployed
unemployed benefits
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My cousin is _____ at the moment, but he has several interviews next week.
Etymology
From un- ("not") plus employed, the past participle of employ.
Synonyms
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unwaged
laid off
unoccupied
between jobs
employmentally challenged
idle
jobless
nonemployed
occupationless
on the wallaby
on the wallaby track
out of a job
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for unemployed
See all rhymes for unemployed →Frequently asked questions
What does “unemployed” mean?
The word “unemployed” means without a job, despite being able and willing to work. In plain terms, without paid work.
How do you pronounce “unemployed”?
“Unemployed” is pronounced uh-nihm-PLOYD (/ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “unemployed” in a sentence?
Here is “unemployed” used in a sentence: “He's been unemployed since the factory closed down.”
What is another word for “unemployed”?
Words with a similar meaning to “unemployed” include between jobs, employmentally challenged, idle, jobless, nonemployed and occupationless.
What is the opposite of “unemployed”?
The opposite of “unemployed” — its antonyms — are working and employed.
What part of speech is “unemployed”?
Depending on how it is used, “unemployed” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “unemployed” a common word?
“Unemployed” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “unemployed” have?
“Unemployed” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: without a job, despite being able and willing to work.
What is the difference between unemployed and jobless?
Both describe not having a job. Unemployed is the standard, often official term, especially for someone able and willing to work, while jobless is a slightly more informal synonym used in much the same way.
What is the difference between unemployed and self-employed?
Unemployed means having no job despite being able and willing to work. Self-employed means working for oneself rather than an employer, so a self-employed person has work and is not unemployed.
What is the difference between unemployed and redundant?
Being made redundant means losing a particular job because the role is no longer needed. Unemployed is the broader state of being without a job afterwards, whatever the cause.
Can unemployed be used as a noun?
Yes. With the, it refers to people without jobs considered as a group, as in support for the unemployed. As an adjective it describes an individual, as in an unemployed teacher.
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