unemployable

adjective

un·​em·​ploy·​able ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-ə-bəl How to pronounce unemployable (audio)
: not acceptable for employment
unemployability noun
unemployable noun

Examples of unemployable in a Sentence

His drug addiction has made him unemployable.
Recent Examples on the Web Minimum wage makes many of the least productive and most disadvantaged workers unemployable. Matthew Lau, National Review, 31 May 2023 Finding himself unemployable, Goldstine initiated a legal proceeding and in January 2020 won an arbitration award believed to be in the ballpark of $20 million. Kim Masters, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2023 Jurors seated for such a long and life-disrupting stint are likely to be unemployed, unemployable, retired, or laborers for large corporations that will pay them during their absence, say experts. Bill Hochberg, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2023 Defense attorney John Everett of Farmington told Holmes that Cessario's conviction renders his client unemployable in any kind of law enforcement or security capacity. Doug Thompson, Arkansas Online, 6 Jan. 2023 Record reform is crucial, as even nonviolent, low-level charges can make a person unemployable for the rest of their lives. Andrew Ward, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2022 Their mother, siblings and relatives were shunned and became unemployable. Diane Cole, WSJ, 17 June 2022 Depp has denied ever striking Heard and testified that the abuse allegations, named or unnamed, are fabrications that have destroyed his life and reputation, and left him unemployable. Sean Piccoli, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2022 Their concern is that this will increase income inequality and create a mass of virtually unemployable people. Ashley Stahl, Forbes, 3 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unemployable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unemployable was in 1887

Dictionary Entries Near unemployable

Cite this Entry

“Unemployable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployable. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unemployable

adjective
un·​em·​ploy·​able ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-ə-bəl How to pronounce unemployable (audio)
: not capable of being employed
especially : not capable of holding a job
unemployable noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unemployable

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!