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Definitions

unemployed

[uhn-em-ploid] / ˌʌn ɛmˈplɔɪd /
ADJECTIVE
without a job
Synonyms
STRONGEST
idle inactive jobless underemployed
STRONG
down free loafing
WEAK
at liberty between jobs closed-down disengaged fired laid-off leisured on layoff on the bench on the dole on the shelf out of a job out of action out of work resting unapplied unengaged unexercised unoccupied unused without gainful employment workless
Antonyms
STRONGEST
active busy working
WEAK
employed occupied

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There are currently 0.9 job openings for every unemployed person.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Across IITs nationally, 8,000 of 21,500 graduates remain unemployed.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Students and the unemployed worked as line-sitters; for up to $5 an hour, they’d sit in your car and inch it forward toward the gas pumps.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Continuing claims, which scale with the total size of the unemployed population fell to 1.85 million in the week through Feb. 28, versus 1.87 million a week earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Someone like me who was unemployed or had a prior criminal record?

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson