unpaid

adjective

un·​paid ˌən-ˈpād 

1

: not paid

an unpaid volunteer

2

: not paying a salary

an unpaid position

Synonyms of unpaid

• outstanding
• owed
• payable

Examples of unpaid in a Sentence

I have a pile of unpaid bills sitting on my desk.

The city is trying to collect unpaid taxes.

She took three months of unpaid leave from her job.

I served as an unpaid consultant on the project.

Recent Examples on the Web

Bass was in Chicago when the fire broke out, and after it was extinguished, The Times reported that one of Bass’ top advisors was working as a crisis communications consultant for Lineage while still serving as an unpaid advisor to the mayor. — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Attorney calls it a ‘botched’ investigation Evans was placed on unpaid leave during the criminal case. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

The total unpaid balance increased from $198 million to $236 million during the same period. — CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

The advertisement, approved by Hamilton, follows a report from the New York Times that detailed Marshall’s former OB-GYN practice sued over 700 patients for unpaid medical bills, with 81 of the lawsuits resulting in arrests. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unpaid

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

unpaid

adjective

un·​paid ˌən-ˈpād 

1

: not paid

an unpaid volunteer

2

: not paying a salary

an unpaid position