ENGLISH
REFERENCE

jobless

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdʒɑbɫəs// UK //dʒˈɒbləs// job·less Slang

adj. not having a job when you want one. It describes people who are looking for work but do not have a position yet.

adj. lacking employment; without a paid job. Often used to describe the status of a specific population or the general state of the economy.


SIMPLE

Many jobless workers are looking for new opportunities.

CONTEXTUAL

The government introduced new training programs to help jobless residents return to the workforce.

COMPLEX

Economists warned that a sudden increase in the jobless rate could lead to a significant decline in consumer spending across the region.

Synonyms
Origin

From job + -less.

Usage

Often used with the definite article 'the' to refer to unemployed people as a group.

Pitfall

the joblessesthe joblessWhen using an adjective as a collective noun for a group of people, it does not take a plural 's'.

© 2026 English Reference