unemployment
uhn-ihm-PLOY-muhnt
Unemployment (noun) means the state of not having a paid job. Example: “After months of unemployment, he finally accepted a job offer at the local garage.”
noun
1
The state of not having a paid job.
"After months of unemployment, he finally accepted a job offer at the local garage."
"Long unemployment can make people lose confidence in their skills."
"She struggled financially during a long spell of unemployment."
"Unemployment made Jack depressed."
2
The overall level of joblessness in an economy, often given as a percentage.
"Unemployment has been considered a cause of crime."
"Unemployment was reported at 5.2% in May, up from 4.9% in April."
"Economists say unemployment tends to rise when businesses stop hiring."
"The government is worried that youth unemployment is higher in some regions than in others."
"Unemployment fell to its lowest level in a decade."
How to use unemployment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot having a job, or the general rate of joblessness across a country or region.
Common pairings
unemployment rate
rising unemployment
unemployment benefits
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Word forms
- Plural
- unemployments
Fill the gap
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After months of _____, he finally accepted a job offer at the local garage.
Etymology
From un- ("not") plus employment.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for unemployment
See all rhymes for unemployment →Frequently asked questions
What does “unemployment” mean?
The word “unemployment” means the state of not having a paid job. In plain terms, not having a job, or the general rate of joblessness across a country or region.
How do you pronounce “unemployment”?
“Unemployment” is pronounced uhn-ihm-PLOY-muhnt (/ʌn.ɪmˈplɔɪ.mənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “unemployment” in a sentence?
Here is “unemployment” used in a sentence: “She struggled financially during a long spell of unemployment.”
What is another word for “unemployment”?
Words with a similar meaning to “unemployment” include joblessness, worklessness and unwork.
What is the opposite of “unemployment”?
The opposite of “unemployment” — its antonyms — are employment and reemployment.
What part of speech is “unemployment”?
“Unemployment” is a noun.
Is “unemployment” a common word?
“Unemployment” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “unemployment” have?
“Unemployment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state of not having a paid job.
What is the difference between 'unemployment' and 'redundancy'?
'Unemployment' is the general state of not having a paid job, whatever the cause. 'Redundancy' is one specific route into unemployment: losing a job because the role itself is no longer needed, rather than because of the worker's performance.
What is the difference between the unemployment rate and unemployment?
'Unemployment' can mean one person's state of not having a paid job, or the overall level of joblessness in an economy. The 'unemployment rate' refers only to that second meaning, expressed as the percentage of the workforce who are jobless and seeking work.
Is 'unemployment' a countable noun?
'Unemployment' is an uncountable noun, so it takes no plural and is not used with 'a' or 'an'. You say 'unemployment is rising' or 'high unemployment', never 'an unemployment' or 'unemployments'.
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