-ȯimənt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English employement, from emploien to employ + -ment — more at employ
1. : use , purpose
2.
a. : activity in which one engages and employs his time and energies
her baby will give her employment enough now — Rachel Henning
those in public office usually had to attend to their private employments — C.L.Jones
as
(1) : work (as customary trade, craft, service, or vocation) in which one's labor or services are paid for by an employer
employment as a mechanic
in the employment of the contractor
(2) : temporary or occasional work or service for pay
went from town to town, working when I could get employment — Oliver Goldsmith
(3) : occasional activity engaged in as an avocation, pastime, habit, or expedient
b. : an instance of such activity
no sooner did he get an employment , however lowly, than his employer turned out to be a Communist — F.M.Ford
in blitz war, the tactical employments of the airplane are many and varied — S.L.A.Marshall
3. : the act of employing someone or something or the state of being employed
the employment of a pen in sketching
the employment of all means to an end
the employment of new workers
walk to a distant table, and, leaning there in pretended employment , try to subdue the feelings — Jane Austen
the routine employment of blood transfusion — Current Biography
the next four essays examine the way in which the employment of myth, belief, or even manners give meaning and form to the novel — W.V.O'Connor
b. : the degree or extent to which the persons needing employment or available for employment are provided with it or lack it because of the prevailing economic conditions
employment in the particular area is likely to increase or decrease with the economic condition of the country as a whole
efforts to increase employment by stimulating local industry
Synonyms: see work