/un'em ployd"/ , adj.
1. not employed; without a job; out of work: an unemployed secretary.
2. not currently in use: unemployed productive capacity.
3. not productively used: unemployed capital.
n.
4. ( used with a pl. v. ) people who do not have jobs (usually prec. by the ): programs to help the unemployed.
[ 1590-1600; UN- 1 + EMPLOY + -ED 2 ]
Syn. 1. unoccupied, idle, at liberty, jobless.