English Lexicon

Unemployment

/ˌʌn.ɪmˈplɔɪ.mənt/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The state of being unemployed; the condition of not having a job.

    "After the factory closed, many workers faced long-term unemployment."
  2. 2

    The number of people in a particular area who are unemployed.

    "The unemployment rate in the region has increased significantly over the past year."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term 'unemployment' is derived from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'employment', which comes from the Latin 'implicare' meaning 'to involve'. The term has evolved since the 19th century to specifically denote the state of being without a job despite the desire to work.

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