noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ʌn.ɪmˈplɔɪ.mənt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AH2 N IH0 M P L OY1 M AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The state of having no job; joblessness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Unemployment made Jack depressed.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The phenomenon of joblessness in an economy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Unemployment has been considered a cause of crime.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The level of joblessness in an economy, often measured as a percentage of the workforce.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Unemployment was reported at 5.2% in May, up from 4.9% in April.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A type of joblessness due to a particular economic mechanism.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Examples
All unemployments, seasonal, frictional, cyclical, classical, whatever, mean that you're out of work.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
An instance or period of joblessness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Examples
Until then his life had consisted of low-paying jobs, numerous unemployments, and drug use.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
the state of being unemployed or not having a job
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
unemployment is a serious social evil
the rate of unemployment is an indicator of the health of an economy
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: employment
Broader terms: state
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English employment English unemployment From un- + employment.
Across languages
Translations
113 source translations are retained for this English entry.