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
Examples of unemployed in a Sentence
the plant closings left a significant portion of the town's population unemployed
Recent Examples on the Web
Real-world data underscores the disconnect: of the 34 million Medicaid recipients, only 5.6 million are unemployed, and fewer are fit for rural, physically demanding jobs—leading analysts to estimate 500,000–750,000 could realistically transition into ag roles.
—
Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
More than 45,000 young people ages 16 to 24 were both out of school and unemployed in 2022, a figure that far exceeds both state and national benchmarks.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025
According to a report by the U.S. Department of Labor, in June, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) increased by 190,000 to 1.6 million, largely offsetting a decrease the prior month.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
About 80% of people in Gaza were unemployed at the end of 2024, according to the World Bank, and the figure is likely higher now.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Fortune, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unemployed
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Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
More than 45,000 young people ages 16 to 24 were both out of school and unemployed in 2022, a figure that far exceeds both state and national benchmarks.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2025
According to a report by the U.S. Department of Labor, in June, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) increased by 190,000 to 1.6 million, largely offsetting a decrease the prior month.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
About 80% of people in Gaza were unemployed at the end of 2024, according to the World Bank, and the figure is likely higher now.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Fortune, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unemployed
Cite this Entry
“Unemployed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployed. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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