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unemployed

adj. · n.
US //ˌənɛmˈpɫɔɪd// UK //ʌnɛmplˈɔɪd// un·em·ployed
  1. 1 without a job (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    not having a job, even though you want one and are looking for work.

    describing a person who is currently without paid employment but is actively seeking work.

    Example

    He has been unemployed for six months, but he finally has an interview tomorrow.

    Example

    The factory closure left hundreds of skilled workers suddenly unemployed in a region with few other industrial opportunities.
    Pitfall
    He is an unemployed.
    He is unemployed.

    When describing one person, use 'unemployed' as an adjective. Do not use it as a countable noun for an individual.

  2. 2 jobless people as a group (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    people who do not have jobs, looked at as a large group.

    a collective noun referring to the segment of the population that is currently without work.

    Example

    The government is creating new training programs to help the unemployed.

    Example

    Economic policies must address the needs of the long-term unemployed to prevent social exclusion and permanent loss of skills.

    Usage

    Always used with the definite article 'the' and treated as a plural noun.
    • the jobless
    • the workforce
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  1. 3 not being used (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    not being used for any purpose at the moment.

    not being utilised or put to a specific purpose; often used in technical or formal contexts regarding resources or capital.

    Example

    The company has a lot of unemployed capital that could be invested in new projects.

    Example

    The report highlighted the amount of unemployed machinery sitting in the warehouse while production targets remained unmet.
Origin

From un- + employed.

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