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

In reality, instead of a seat at the table, thousands of workers are now unemployed. —The Editors, National Review, 10 June 2024

Unemployment is low on a national scale, but people are still unemployed. —Nerdwallet, The Mercury News, 28 May 2024

In California, there were 140 unemployed workers for every 100 job openings in March, according to federal statistics released Friday. —Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024

People of color were also found to be more likely to be unemployed than non-Hispanic whites in all states, according to U.S. News. —Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 7 May 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