unemployed
adjective
un·em·ployed
ˌən-im-ˈplȯid 
: not employed:
a
: not being used
unemployed machines
b
: not engaged in a gainful occupation
an unemployed teacher seeking work
15% of the workforce was unemployed.
c
: not invested
unemployed capital
unemployed
noun
Examples of unemployed in a Sentence
the plant closings left a significant portion of the town's population unemployed
Recent Examples on the Web
About 25% of all jobless individuals in July were long-term unemployed, the highest share since February 2022, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
—
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025
Nearly half of the UK’s TV industry workforce are unemployed, a Bectu survey has found, with many having to seek work outside of the sector.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2025
With over 4 million Gen Zers currently unemployed (and AI continuing to wipe out entry-level roles), even a degree is no longer enough to get your foot in door.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2025
The state's unemployment rate was just 3.6% in December 2024, and there were more job openings than unemployed people in the state, according to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
—Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unemployed
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025
Nearly half of the UK’s TV industry workforce are unemployed, a Bectu survey has found, with many having to seek work outside of the sector.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2025
With over 4 million Gen Zers currently unemployed (and AI continuing to wipe out entry-level roles), even a degree is no longer enough to get your foot in door.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2025
The state's unemployment rate was just 3.6% in December 2024, and there were more job openings than unemployed people in the state, according to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
—Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unemployed
Cite this Entry
“Unemployed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployed. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unemployed
adjective
un·em·ployed
ˌən-im-ˈplȯid
1
: not being used
unemployed tools
2
: not employed : having no job
unemployed workers
unemployed
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share