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
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
The investment bank Goldman Sachs on Thursday said that based on its forecasts and historic experience, higher oil prices would cause inflation to be higher, growth to be slower and the unemployment rate to increase by the end of the year.
—
Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
That’s why Goldman Sachs economists this week increased their forecasts for inflation and unemployment and raised their risk of recession this year to 25%, up from 20%.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
No one from Beyond Behavior participated in Bartels’ unemployment hearing, and Alyssa Hennings, the organization’s CEO, declined to comment on the case Wednesday.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 13 Mar. 2026
Applications for unemployment benefits inched down modestly last week as layoffs remain at historically healthy levels despite a weakening job market.
—Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unemployment
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Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
That’s why Goldman Sachs economists this week increased their forecasts for inflation and unemployment and raised their risk of recession this year to 25%, up from 20%.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
No one from Beyond Behavior participated in Bartels’ unemployment hearing, and Alyssa Hennings, the organization’s CEO, declined to comment on the case Wednesday.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 13 Mar. 2026
Applications for unemployment benefits inched down modestly last week as layoffs remain at historically healthy levels despite a weakening job market.
—Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unemployment
Cite this Entry
“Unemployment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployment. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unemployment
noun
un·em·ploy·ment
ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-mənt
: the state of being out of work
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