unemployment

noun

un·​em·​ploy·​ment ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-mənt 

1

: the state of being unemployed : involuntary idleness of workers

also : the rate of such unemployment

2

: unemployment compensation

Examples of unemployment in a Sentence

My unemployment lasted about six months.

Unemployment has been increasing for months.

The current unemployment rate is six percent.

Recent Examples on the Web

For the Cuban leadership, Torres Pérez concludes, the private sector is a mere pressure-release valve, easing unemployment and furnishing consumer staples, not a promising engine of dynamic growth. —Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025

The Labor Department said Tuesday that the unemployment rate hit a four-year high last month — but the labor force participation rate also ticked up. —Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 16 Dec. 2025

If the unemployment rate remains relatively low and the stock market doesn't face a serious setback, Tannenbaum said, the economy will have room to grow. —Susan Tompor, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025

The larger-than-expected rise in the unemployment rate could, however, raise concerns within the Fed, said Seema Shah, chief global strategist of Principal Asset Management, in an email. —Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing unemployment

• anti-unemployment
• unemployment compensation
• unemployment insurance

Rhymes for unemployment

• preemployment
• redeployment
• reemployment
• deployment
• employment
• enjoyment
• underemployment

Kids Definition

unemployment

noun

un·​em·​ploy·​ment ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-mənt 

: the state of being out of work