# recruitment

/ɹəˈkɹutmənt/ (US) · /ɹɪkɹˈuːtmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/recruitment
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. hiring staff

noun · CEFR B2

the process of finding and hiring new people to join a company or organization.

For teachers: the process of finding and selecting new employees or members for an organization.

- The company is focusing on recruitment to find the best talent for the new office.
- The HR department has overhauled its recruitment strategy to better target graduates with specialized technical backgrounds.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general process.

### 2. military enlisting

noun · CEFR B2

the act of getting people to join the army, navy, or air force.

For teachers: the process of enlisting people for service in the armed forces.

- Military recruitment usually increases during times of national crisis.
- The government launched a nationwide recruitment drive to bolster the reserve forces ahead of the scheduled training exercises.

### 3. biology/ecology

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the process where new young animals or plants are added to a population.

For teachers: the addition of new individuals to a population through birth, settling, or reaching a certain age/size.

- Marine biologists are worried about the low recruitment of young fish in the reef this year.
- The study analyzed the recruitment patterns of oak seedlings to determine how local deer populations affected forest regeneration.

### 4. medicine/physiology

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the way the body activates more cells or parts to handle a task, like breathing or hearing.

For teachers: the activation of additional units or cells to perform a physiological function, such as lung aeration or muscle fiber engagement.

- The doctor used a special machine to help with lung recruitment in the patient.
- Alveolar recruitment maneuvers are often employed in intensive care settings to improve oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

## Examples

- The company is starting a new recruitment drive this month.
- Our recruitment process involves three rounds of interviews and a practical skills test to find the best candidate.
- Effective recruitment strategies must balance the immediate need for technical skills with the long-term goal of building a diverse and culturally aligned workforce.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.