employer

noun

em·​ploy·​er im-ˈplȯi-ər 

em-

plural employers

: one that employs or makes use of something or somebody

… it is one of the most aggressive employers of the dreaded pop-up ads that effloresce across one's video screen like a sudden and unpleasant rash …

—Christopher Orr

especially : a person or company that provides a job paying wages or a salary to one or more people

Private household workers usually work in pleasant and comfortable homes or apartments. Most are dayworkers who live in their own homes and travel to work. Some live in the home of their employer, generally with their own room and bath.

—Occupational Outlook Handbook

One of Hiroshima's main contributions to the post-war economic miracle of Japan is the Mazda car plant, the single largest employer in Hiroshima.

—Michael Dillon

… choose a classic health-insurance plan—if your employer still makes one available.

—Laura Johannes

Outside of the public sector and unionized shops, salaries in North America have long been considered a private matter between employer and employee.

—Amanda Stephenson

Examples of employer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For now, all that can be said for certain, judging by the latest implosion in his current employers West Ham’s fast-deteriorating season, is that nobody has benefited from his falling-out with Edu and the sequence of events that brought about Nuno’s exit from the City Ground. —Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

The first call came from Spencer's employer, Mark Valrose, who owns Athens Dental Depot. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026

Downtown’s largest employers include finance, law firms, government agencies and more. —Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026

The deadline for employers to send W-2 forms is January 31. —Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

employ entry 1 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing employer

• equal opportunities employer
• equal opportunity employer

Rhymes for employer

• destroyer
• foyer
• oyer
• multiemployer

Kids Definition

employer

noun

em·​ploy·​er

im-ˈplȯi(-ə)r

: one that employs others

Legal Definition

employer

noun

em·​ploy·​er

: one that hires others to perform a service or engage in an activity in exchange for compensation see also respondeat superior