unemployed

adjective

un·​em·​ployed ˌən-im-ˈplȯid 

: not employed:

a

: not being used

unemployed machines

b

: not engaged in a gainful occupation

an unemployed teacher seeking work

15% of the workforce was unemployed.

c

: not invested

unemployed capital

unemployed noun

Synonyms

• jobless

Examples of unemployed in a Sentence

the plant closings left a significant portion of the town's population unemployed

Recent Examples on the Web

But the nation’s unemployment rate edged up to 4.2% last month from 4.1% as more people reported being unemployed and others left the labor force. —Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

According to data from the Ghana Statistical Service, more than 1.3 million people aged between 15 and 35 were unemployed as of September last year. —Nimi Princewill, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024

In preparation to take on the key role in Trump’s incoming administration, Gaetz resigned from the House, effectively leaving him unemployed. —William Gavin, Quartz, 29 Nov. 2024

In 2018, Cooper was heartbroken and unemployed, recording a podcast with her then-roommate, Sofia Franklyn, from their NYC apartment. —Alexandra York, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unemployed

• the unemployed

Kids Definition

unemployed

adjective

un·​em·​ployed ˌən-im-ˈplȯid 

1

: not being used

unemployed tools

2

: not employed : having no job

unemployed workers

unemployed noun