adjective
unemployed
Without paid work, especially while seeking it.
He is unemployed and checks the job listings every morning.
Etymology
The negative prefix denies the employed condition. The person lacks paid work, especially while still available for employment.
More examples
- She has been unemployed since the factory closed.
- The program helps unemployed workers find new jobs.
- I worry about becoming unemployed if the store closes.
Forms
unemployed
unemployment noun — The state of being without paid work.
Similar words
- jobless
- Often interchangeable; emphasizes having no job rather than employment status.
- out of work
- An everyday phrase for having no job, often temporarily.