employee

noun

em·​ploy·​ee im-ˌplȯ(i)-ˈē 

(ˌ)em-;

im-ˈplȯ(i)-ˌē 

em-

variants or less commonly employe

: one employed by another usually for wages or salary and in a position below the executive level

Synonyms

• hand
• hireling
• jobholder
• retainer
• worker

Examples of employee in a Sentence

A good boss listens to his employees.

The company has more than 2,000 employees worldwide.

Recent Examples on the Web

The solution lies in prioritizing employee growth and well-being. —Rhett Power, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024

State services offered online will remain available and state employees will work remotely where possible. —Craig Shoup, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024

Even if other government employees are furloughed without pay, Assistant U.S. Attorneys will work through the shutdown if necessary and will not be paid. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

Originally Published: December 21, 2024 at 5:45 AM EST Most Popular Most Popular CVS Health Corp. to lay off another 164 employees connected to Aetna Hartford site Social Security Fairness Act passes Senate. —Renata Daou, Hartford Courant, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

employ entry 1 + -ee entry 1, perhaps after French employé

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

employee

noun

em·​ploy·​ee im-ˌplȯi-ˈē  (ˌ)em- 

im-ˈplȯi-ˌē,

em-

: one who works for another for wages or a salary

Legal Definition

employee

noun

em·​ploy·​ee

variants also employe

: a person usually below the executive level who is hired by another to perform a service especially for wages or salary and is under the other's control see also respondeat superior compare independent contractor

Note: In determining whether an individual is an employee, courts look at several factors, including the nature of the compensation paid, provision for employee benefits, whether the hired party is in business, tax treatment of the hired party, source of the equipment used, and location of the work. Statutes, such as workers' compensation acts and labor laws, usually include a definition of employee as it is used in the statute.