unpaid

adjective

un·​paid ˌən-ˈpād How to pronounce unpaid (audio)
1
: not paid
an unpaid volunteer
2
: not paying a salary
an unpaid position

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many programs require several years of full-time professional experience—experience often gained through unpaid internships or early-career jobs only accessible to those with financial safety nets. Leadership Brainery, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 And for many women, that looks like a double shift of paid and unpaid work, researchers found. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 26 June 2025 Alternatively, the attorneys union’s stretch of unpaid leave will last for 16 months while the engineers and correctional officers’ personal leave program would last for two years, if union members and the Legislature approve those tentative agreements. William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2025 Others had unpaid parking and speeding tickets that didn't belong to them recorded on their driver’s licenses, Cerdan said. Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for unpaid

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unpaid was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Unpaid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unpaid. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

unpaid

adjective
un·​paid ˌən-ˈpād How to pronounce unpaid (audio)
1
: not paid
an unpaid volunteer
2
: not paying a salary
an unpaid position

More from Merriam-Webster on unpaid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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