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
Now, Mays is in jail awaiting trial and Barnes is unemployed.
—
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Duprey was unemployed as of a July court filing.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 2 Mar. 2026
The Trade Adjustment Assistance program helped workers who became unemployed due to the impact of foreign trade, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development website.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
The protests in Nepal last year revealed the extent of young people’s frustration with corruption and a lack of opportunity in the country, where around a fifth of young adults are unemployed, but where the children of the political elite seem to enjoy luxury lifestyles and numerous advantages.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unemployed
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Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Duprey was unemployed as of a July court filing.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 2 Mar. 2026
The Trade Adjustment Assistance program helped workers who became unemployed due to the impact of foreign trade, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development website.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
The protests in Nepal last year revealed the extent of young people’s frustration with corruption and a lack of opportunity in the country, where around a fifth of young adults are unemployed, but where the children of the political elite seem to enjoy luxury lifestyles and numerous advantages.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unemployed
Cite this Entry
“Unemployed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployed. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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
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