Unemployed Meaning
/ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪd/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjHaving no job despite being able and willing to work.
adjHaving no use, not doing work
Sentence Examples
The police assembled several unemployed men.
Being unemployed gave me the chance to stand back and think about my life.
How long have you been unemployed?
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the company suddenly downsized, many of its former workers were left ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He has been ____ for several months and is actively looking for a new job in the industry.
Word Origin & History
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 employed English unemployed From un- + employed.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Several special types of unemployed workers are described. These include nonmodal workers, threshold workers, "the unemployables", and the physically handicapped."
— 1934, United States. Bureau of Employment Security, Employment Security Review, volumes 2-5, page 15:
"England's attacking impetus was limited to one shot from Lampard that was comfortably collected by keeper Iker Casillas, but for all Spain's domination of the ball his England counterpart Joe Hart was unemployed."
— 2011 November 12, “International friendly: England 1-0 Spain”, in BBC Sport:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the company suddenly downsized, many of its former workers were left ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He has been ____ for several months and is actively looking for a new job in the industry.