unemployment
noun
un·em·ploy·ment
ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-mənt 
1
: the state of being unemployed : involuntary idleness of workers
also
: the rate of such unemployment
Examples of unemployment in a Sentence
My unemployment lasted about six months.
Unemployment has been increasing for months.
The current unemployment rate is six percent.
Recent Examples on the Web
The MSAs with the highest unemployment rates were Eagle Pass at 9.6%, Brownsville-Harlingen at 7.4%, and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission at 6.4%.
—
Bethany Blankley, The Washington Examiner, 20 July 2025
Fortunately, for the time being, labor market dynamics are on the Fed’s side, with the unemployment rate coming at 4.1%, as of June, and initial jobless claims now falling for five straight weeks.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 19 July 2025
The unadjusted unemployment rate was 5.7% for California and 4.4% for the nation during the same period.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2025
The national unemployment rate in June was 4.1%, down from 4.2% in May.
—Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unemployment
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Bethany Blankley, The Washington Examiner, 20 July 2025
Fortunately, for the time being, labor market dynamics are on the Fed’s side, with the unemployment rate coming at 4.1%, as of June, and initial jobless claims now falling for five straight weeks.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 19 July 2025
The unadjusted unemployment rate was 5.7% for California and 4.4% for the nation during the same period.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2025
The national unemployment rate in June was 4.1%, down from 4.2% in May.
—Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for unemployment
Cite this Entry
“Unemployment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unemployment. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unemployment
noun
un·em·ploy·ment
ˌən-im-ˈplȯi-mənt
: the state of being out of work
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