Meaning & Definition of Unemployment in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: The condition when a person who is capable of working is unable to find a job.

  Example Sentence: The rise in unemployment has led to increased concern among government officials.

• Definition: A measure of the number of people who are actively seeking work but cannot find jobs.

  Example Sentence: The government released a report detailing the current unemployment rate in the country.

• Definition: The total number of people within a country or area who are unemployed.

  Example Sentence: Unemployment in the region has decreased over the past year.

Etymology

Origin: The word 'unemployment' combines the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' with 'employment', which derives from the Latin 'implicare' meaning 'to involve'.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• unemployment rate: The percentage of the labor force that is unemployed.
• long-term unemployment: A situation where individuals remain unemployed for an extended period, typically longer than 27 weeks.
• youth unemployment: Unemployment specifically affecting individuals in their late teens and early twenties.

Translations

• Spanish: desempleo

• French: chômage

• German: Arbeitslosigkeit

• Russian: безработица

Related Words

• employ: To give work to someone and pay them for it.

• employer: A person or organization that hires people to work for them.

• employee: A person who is hired to work for another person or organization.

Slang Meanings of unemployment

• Meaning: On the bench

  Example Sentence: After losing his job, he's been on the bench, trying to find new opportunities.

• Meaning: Job hunting

  Example Sentence: She's been job hunting for months since her last position ended.