employee

noun

em·​ploy·​ee im-ˌplȯ(i)-ˈē 

(ˌ)em-;

im-ˈplȯ(i)-ˌē 

em-

variants or less commonly employe

: one employed by another usually for wages or salary and in a position below the executive level

Synonyms of employee

• worker

Examples of employee in a Sentence

A good boss listens to his employees.

The company has more than 2,000 employees worldwide.

Recent Examples on the Web

While city leaders debated how to restructure the system, LAHSA employees said the uncertainty is already taking a toll. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026

With this information, employers can steer employees to the best-value providers, remedy overbilling by intermediaries, and design affordable health plans with lower premiums. —Jordan Bruneau, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026

Once inside the business, the suspect unplugged the security cameras and asked employees to open the register. —Jason Green, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026

For example, fuel shortages in Asia could hinder factory employees from getting to work, Gildea said, potentially slowing export production. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

employ entry 1 + -ee entry 1, perhaps after French employé

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

employee

noun

em·​ploy·​ee im-ˌplȯi-ˈē  (ˌ)em- 

im-ˈplȯi-ˌē, 

em-

: one who works for another for wages or a salary

Legal Definition

employee

noun

em·​ploy·​ee

variants also employe

: a person usually below the executive level who is hired by another to perform a service especially for wages or salary and is under the other's control see also respondeat superior compare independent contractor

Note: In determining whether an individual is an employee, courts look at several factors, including the nature of the compensation paid, provision for employee benefits, whether the hired party is in business, tax treatment of the hired party, source of the equipment used, and location of the work. Statutes, such as workers' compensation acts and labor laws, usually include a definition of employee as it is used in the statute.