unpaid

adjective

un·​paid ˌən-ˈpād 

1

: not paid

an unpaid volunteer

2

: not paying a salary

an unpaid position

Synonyms of unpaid

• outstanding
• owed
• payable

Examples of unpaid in a Sentence

I have a pile of unpaid bills sitting on my desk.

The city is trying to collect unpaid taxes.

She took three months of unpaid leave from her job.

I served as an unpaid consultant on the project.

Recent Examples on the Web

Congolese authorities are investigating the funding and have restricted operations to 25 accredited organizations, amid reports that frontline workers have gone unpaid. — Monika Pronczuk, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

The elder O’Neal joined the program himself as its general manager in an unpaid, voluntary role, The Athletic reported. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026

The former was piece of material was visible on the unpaid account, and had garnered 270,000 views. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026

The 2024 report found the city court had issued arrest warrants for more than 650 people, roughly half of the city’s population, for unpaid fines. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unpaid

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

unpaid

adjective

un·​paid ˌən-ˈpād 

1

: not paid

an unpaid volunteer

2

: not paying a salary

an unpaid position