unemployment insurance

noun

: social insurance against involuntary unemployment that provides unemployment compensation for a limited period to unemployed workers

also : unemployment compensation

Examples of unemployment insurance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Layoffs are low but caution is high Layoff activity hasn’t picked up speed, according to the Labor Department’s weekly reports on unemployment insurance filings. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

However, layoffs remain low, with the latest data showing that first-time claims for unemployment insurance edged down to 197,000 last week. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2026

Initiatives like microcredentialing programs, unemployment insurance, and portable benefits could limit the severity of future labor market downturns by supporting this growing cohort of workers. — Noah Yosif, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026

Federal investigators said Dixson fraudulently received more than $170,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program and unemployment insurance funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. — Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unemployment insurance

• assurance
• durance
• reassurance
• reinsurance

Legal Definition

unemployment insurance

noun

: a social insurance program that provides unemployment compensation for a limited period to involuntarily unemployed workers