employment
Americannoun
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an act or instance of employing someone or something.
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the state of being employed; employ; service.
to begin or terminate employment.
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an occupation by which a person earns a living; work; business.
- Synonyms:
- profession, trade, job, calling, vocation
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the total number of people gainfully employed or working.
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an activity or the like that occupies a person's time.
She found knitting a comforting employment for her idle hours.
noun
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the act of employing or state of being employed
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the work or occupation in which a person is employed
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the purpose for which something is used
Usage
What does employment mean? Employment most generally means the state of having a paid job—of being employed. To employ someone is to pay them to work. An employer provides employment to employees. Employment can also refer to the act of employing people, as in We’re working to increase our employment of women. Or it can refer to a person’s work or how they earn a living, as in What does he do for employment?In the context of economics, employment is commonly used to mean the total number of people employed, such as in a country, as in Employment is up this quarter, with thousands of new jobs having been created. The opposite of this is unemployment—the total number of people who are unemployed (who do not have a job). Unemployment also commonly means the state of being unemployed. Employ can also be used as a synonym of the verb use, and employment can be employed as a synonym of the noun use, as in The employment of artificial intelligence creates many ethical concerns. Example:In this economy, finding consistent employment is a challenge for many workers.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of employment
Explanation
Employment is your occupation or the fact that you have a job. If you are looking for employment, you might start by attending a job fair — if you make a good impression, you might get hired immediately. If you have employment, it means you have a job. You can also use the noun employment to talk about exactly what that job involves, like your employment in the entertainment industry or in the carnival business. Employment also refers to the act of giving someone a job. The Latin root is the word implicare, meaning "enfold, involve, or be connected with."
Vocabulary lists containing employment
Labor Day Lexicon: Words That Put You To Work
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American History II
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Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Other research has shown that inequality can increase poverty, reduce opportunities to move up the SES ladder, and limit access to education, employment, and social services.
From Science Daily • Jun. 14, 2026
An official analysis suggests that between 2008 and 2016 migrant workers from the EU accounted for almost all of the employment growth in NI.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
Analysts broadly agree that domestic consumption remains subdued, with DBS economists highlighting weak household sentiment continuing to weigh on spending amid uncertain employment prospects, slower income growth and elevated precautionary savings.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
The processing of work permits has already been slowed, leaving many immigrants who still qualify for employment authorization unable to work.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026
It was imperative that I swiftly find employment, having no coin nor credit nor property for barter.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
