unemployment English · revision 6405

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1789}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ʌn.ɪmˈplɔɪ.mənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[un-]] and [[employment]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The state of being unused: 1887 in Etymonline, 1888 in the OED;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) MWU has 1789.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The OED notes that it was in common use from about 1895.^(OED 1989) The number or proportion of people out of work, as ''unemployment is rising'', follows.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD) As short for unemployment benefit, ''on unemployment'', it is from 1976.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1789 – first known use (MWU).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1887 – being out of work.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1976 – unemployment benefit.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The state of being without a paid job.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The number or percentage of people without work.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US, informal)'' Unemployment benefit.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[antiunemployment]]

+ * [[unemployment insurance]]

+ * [[technological unemployment]]

+ * [[unemployment benefit]]

+ * [[structural unemployment]]

+ * [[cyclical unemployment]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[unemployed]]

+ * [[employment]]

+ * [[employ]]

+ * [[jobless]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}