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

Synonyms of unemployed

• out of work
• jobless

Examples of unemployed in a Sentence

the plant closings left a significant portion of the town's population unemployed

Recent Examples on the Web

The younger Akram was a recently unemployed bricklayer, the outlet reported. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025

During that time, 297,000 lost their jobs and 75,000 were edged out of the labor force, while 223,000 are still unemployed. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025

Losing your job, being unemployed, is something that can happen to anybody. —Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025

The number of people working in Michigan fell by 2,000 in September compared with August and the number of unemployed people dropped by 5,000, leading to an overall decline in the state's labor force. —Adrienne Roberts, Freep.com, 10 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unemployed

• the unemployed

Rhymes for unemployed

• albuminoid
• arytenoid
• cannabinoid
• carotenoid
• epidermoid
• epithelioid
• meteoroid
• paraboloid
• subarachnoid
• underemployed
• adenoid
• alkaloid

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