unemployment

noun

un·​em·​ploy·​ment ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-mənt 

1

: the state of being unemployed : involuntary idleness of workers

also : the rate of such unemployment

2

: unemployment compensation

Examples of unemployment in a Sentence

My unemployment lasted about six months.

Unemployment has been increasing for months.

The current unemployment rate is six percent.

Recent Examples on the Web

References to jobs and unemployment picked up slightly this month and views of the current job market fell. — Matt Ott, Fortune, 29 July 2026

The capital has been plagued by a cost of living crisis, slower pay growth, and higher levels of unemployment than other parts of the country. — Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 29 July 2026

The unemployment rate [is] quite low and has changed little, quite frankly, over the last year. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 29 July 2026

Democrats were more likely than Republicans to voice concern about most of the economic issues measured, with the widest gaps on unemployment and the costs of healthcare, housing, food and other consumer goods. — Emily Guskin, ABC News, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing unemployment

• anti-unemployment
• unemployment compensation
• unemployment insurance

Rhymes for unemployment

• preemployment
• redeployment
• reemployment
• deployment
• employment
• enjoyment
• underemployment

Kids Definition

unemployment

noun

un·​em·​ploy·​ment ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-mənt 

: the state of being out of work