employment

noun

em·​ploy·​ment im-ˈplȯi-mənt How to pronounce employment (audio)
1
2
a
: activity in which one engages or is employed
seeking gainful employment
b
: an instance of such activity
c
: the extent or degree to which a labor force is employed
Employment is high.
3
: the act of employing : the state of being employed
employment of a pen in sketching
Choose the Right Synonym for employment

work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living.

work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

Examples of employment in a Sentence

laws that have encouraged the employment of women I've been looking for employment in the machine trade. The new factory should provide employment for hundreds of workers. unskilled workers trying to find paid employment She hopes to find employment as a teacher. The magazine did well during the course of her employment as editor. Employment is at an all-time high in this part of the state. The city is faced with inadequate housing and a lack of employment.
Recent Examples on the Web Overturning the city's policy of delaying employment for people until five years after their conviction. Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 19 Mar. 2024 Part-time employment used to be a milestone in many kids’ transition to adulthood. Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024 Twenty-nine members of the comparison group had similar employment as the 81 in the patient group. Katie Bo Lillis, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 The Federal Reserve has a dual mandate: maximum employment and price stability. Alena Botros, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024 The Opportunity Tree, Phoenix, $7,500 To provide 150 youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities with workforce development programming that will help them transition successfully from high school to employment, independence and adulthood. Alexis Waiss, The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 2024 The civil trial, which concluded testimony and arguments last week, centered around the employment of Jordan Tyler Bucklew. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 An article on Friday about an autopsy report that showed profound brain damage in a gunman who carried out a mass shooting in Maine referred imprecisely to the gunman’s employment as a recycling truck driver. New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 Nine one-story data hall spec buildings of approximately 2.3 million square feet for future employment users. Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'employment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English employement "expenditure of funds," from emploien "to apply to a task, employ entry 1" + -ment -ment

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of employment was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near employment

Cite this Entry

“Employment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/employment. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

employment

noun
em·​ploy·​ment im-ˈplȯi-mənt How to pronounce employment (audio)
1
: use entry 1 sense 1a, purpose
also : the act of using
2
a
: the act of hiring a person for work
b
: the job for which one is hired : occupation
c
: the state of being employed
employment in the machine trade
d
: the relative number of persons in a labor force who are employed
employment is high

Legal Definition

employment

noun
em·​ploy·​ment
1
: an activity or service performed for another especially for compensation or as an occupation
2
: the act of employing : the state of being employed

More from Merriam-Webster on employment

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