jobless

adjective

job·​less ˈjäb-ləs 

1

: having no job

2

: of or relating to those having no job

jobless benefits

joblessness noun

Synonyms of jobless

• unemployed

Examples of jobless in a Sentence

having been jobless for six months, he was starting to get seriously discouraged

Recent Examples on the Web

Uplifting dip Fewer unemployed Californians, while the nation’s jobless count is basically flat, helps explain California’s improving consumer confidence score as the American psyche sours. — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 3 Aug. 2026

When hiring is weak or negative, the labor market can’t absorb enough new workers, sending the jobless rate up. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026

The Labor Department's report Thursday also showed that the four-week moving average of weekly jobless claims, which softens some of the weekly volatility, fell by 5,000 to 202,750. — ABC News, 30 July 2026

The Labor Department’s report Thursday also showed that the four-week moving average of weekly jobless claims, which softens some of the weekly volatility, fell by 5,000 to 202,750. — Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1