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
Statistically people with disabilities are historically under-employed or unemployed.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2023
What’s more, Black women also have the highest labor force participation rate of all women according to 2021 data from the Department of Labor—meaning a higher share of Black women are either employed or unemployed and looking for work.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 19 Sep. 2023
And with more than 21 percent of young people unemployed, the prospect of social unrest looms.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2023
Nearly 40 percent of people between 15 and 24 are unemployed, according to the World Bank.
—Declan Walsh, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2023
More than six million Americans are unemployed right now.
—Brad Mislow, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2023
Working at home or being unemployed during the pandemic, neophyte investors opened brokerage accounts and got caught up in endless online hype around certain stocks.
—Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023
The country is the fourth-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa, but 34% of its citizens live below the poverty line and nearly 40% of young Gabonese are unemployed, according to World Bank figures.
—Sira Thierij, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2023
Similarly, Scott Pilgrim in the anime series is still the Scott Pilgrim fans will recognize: an unemployed indie musician whose life gets complicated after falling for Ramona Flowers.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
See More
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2023
What’s more, Black women also have the highest labor force participation rate of all women according to 2021 data from the Department of Labor—meaning a higher share of Black women are either employed or unemployed and looking for work.
—Jasmine Browley, Essence, 19 Sep. 2023
And with more than 21 percent of young people unemployed, the prospect of social unrest looms.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 4 Sep. 2023
Nearly 40 percent of people between 15 and 24 are unemployed, according to the World Bank.
—Declan Walsh, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2023
More than six million Americans are unemployed right now.
—Brad Mislow, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2023
Working at home or being unemployed during the pandemic, neophyte investors opened brokerage accounts and got caught up in endless online hype around certain stocks.
—Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023
The country is the fourth-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa, but 34% of its citizens live below the poverty line and nearly 40% of young Gabonese are unemployed, according to World Bank figures.
—Sira Thierij, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2023
Similarly, Scott Pilgrim in the anime series is still the Scott Pilgrim fans will recognize: an unemployed indie musician whose life gets complicated after falling for Ramona Flowers.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unemployed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of unemployed was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing unemployed
Dictionary Entries Near unemployed
Cite this Entry
“Unemployed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployed. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on unemployed
Nglish: Translation of unemployed for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of unemployed for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share