gainfully employed

phrase

: provided with a job that pays wages or salary
She hasn't been gainfully employed for a few years.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gainfully employed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gainfully%20employed. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster