unemployment — the state of being without a job
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the state of being without a job
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/
Example Sentences
- After graduating, he experienced unemployment for six months before finding his dream job.
- The robot revolution caused unemployment among factory workers, but created new jobs for robot therapists.
- Government policies aim to reduce youth unemployment through job training programs.
unemployment
NOUN[/ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/]
the state of being without a job

Rising unemployment affected many families in the town.

Unemployment increased after the factory shut down. (UN + EMPLOYMENT = UNEMPLOYMENT → without employment)

From unemployment to employment, life regained enjoyment.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word emerged from the combination of the prefix 'un-' (meaning 'not') and the verb 'employ' (from Old French 'employer', meaning 'to use' or 'to engage in work'), plus the suffix '-ment' denoting a state or condition. It became established as an economic term following the Industrial Revolution, when labor markets developed and the concept of joblessness required formal designation.
Breakdown
un- (not, negation) + employ (to hire or put to work, from Old French 'employer') + -ment (a state or condition, from Latin '-mentum'). Together these form 'the state of not being employed'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“After graduating, he experienced unemployment for six months before finding his dream job.”
“The robot revolution caused unemployment among factory workers, but created new jobs for robot therapists.”
“Government policies aim to reduce youth unemployment through job training programs.”
“My cat has been facing unemployment since the invention of automatic mouse traps.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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