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 of unemployed

• out of work
• 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 August, the average unemployed person had been out of work for more than six months, the longest average stretch of joblessness since February 2022. — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

The appearance of loitering or being unemployed, homeless, or involved in labor organizing were all causes for arrest. — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Working together for the first time, Noé, who comes from a rural background, is skeptical that Lúa, an unemployed actress from the city, is the right person for the job. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

At 21-Across, the [American architect who invented Scrabble while unemployed during the Great Depression] is ALFRED BUTTS. — New York Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unemployed

• the unemployed

Rhymes for unemployed

• albuminoid
• arytenoid
• cannabinoid
• carotenoid
• epidermoid
• epithelioid
• meteoroid
• paraboloid
• subarachnoid
• underemployed
• adenoid
• alkaloid

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