unpaid
Britishadjective
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(of a bill, debt, etc) not yet paid
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working without pay
-
having wages outstanding
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Many people in my era either had to take unpaid leave or resign, or they got sacked because they were trying to juggle their sports with their career," she said.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
BrewDog's takeover saw 38 bars close across the UK and £20m in unpaid bills left to hundreds of UK businesses.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Layoffs, unpaid staff furloughs and school closures probably are ahead as the leaders downsize operations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
The growing house management sector sheds new light on the unpaid home and childcare labor that has depleted many women, pushing them to exit the workforce.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
A bill unpaid past the fifteenth of the month was a debt.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
