ENGLISH
REFERENCE

employer

n. countable
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ɛmˈpɫɔɪɝ// UK //ɛmplˈɔɪɐ// em·ploy·er General-service

n. a person or company that pays people to work for them. You are an employee, and the person you work for is your employer.

n. a person, business, or organisation that hires and pays personnel for their labour. Often used in legal or contractual contexts to define the party responsible for providing work and compensation.


SIMPLE

My employer offers a good health insurance plan.

CONTEXTUAL

The new law requires every employer to provide at least twenty days of paid holiday per year to full-time staff.

COMPLEX

A responsible employer must balance the pursuit of quarterly profit margins with the long-term well-being and professional development of their workforce to ensure sustainable growth.

Antonyms
Origin

From employ + -er, first attested in the late 16th century. Compare French employeur.

Usage

Commonly paired with 'prospective' when referring to a company someone is applying to.

Pitfall

I am an employer at the bankI am an employee at the bankLearners often confuse 'employer' (the boss/company) with 'employee' (the worker).

© 2026 English Reference