unpaid

British  

/ ʌnˈpeɪd /

adjective

1. (of a bill, debt, etc) not yet paid

2. working without pay

3. having wages outstanding

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Explanation

If a job is unpaid, that means you do it without receiving any money in return. Your unpaid internship at the town newspaper will give you lots of experience, but no income. An unpaid worker hasn't received their paycheck yet, and an unpaid bill means you haven't sent the money you owe to the electric company or dog walker. This adjective is also useful for describing volunteer work, like an unpaid position at the local animal shelter. Unpaid was first coined in the 14th century, from un-, "not," and pay, which has a Latin root meaning "satisfy a creditor," or literally "make peace."

Example Sentences

He was sentenced for both offences on Tuesday, and was told to complete a 15-day rehabilitation programme, 150 hours of unpaid work, and given a 12-month community order.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Jones also sought Lord Mandelson's advice on promotion during last year's Cabinet reshuffle, sparked by Rayner's resignation as deputy prime minister and housing secretary over a tax row about unpaid stamp duty.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

This unpaid work is essential to families, communities and our economy — yet our retirement system still too often treats it like a personal detour instead of a shared reality.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

A spokesman for USAA, whose unpaid claims ticked up to 51% from 49% a decade ago, said the Journal’s analysis was misleading because it lacks important context around why claims may be closed without payment.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

He had had an unpaid internship at a small architecture firm in Cambridge, where he’d run errands at Charrette for the designers, been sent to photograph nearby sites, lettered a few drawings.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Related Words

• delinquent
• outstanding
• overdue