jobless

American  

[job-lis] / ˈdʒɒb lɪs /

adjective

1. without a job.

2. noting or pertaining to people without jobs, especially to those who are seeking employment.

---

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. unemployed people collectively, especially those who are seeking a job.

jobless British  

/ ˈdʒɒblɪs /

adjective

1. 1. unemployed

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the jobless

---

Other Word Forms

• joblessness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of jobless

First recorded in 1800–10; job ¹ + -less

Explanation

If you're jobless, you don't currently have a job. If you quit your early morning job at the donut shop, you'll be able to sleep late again, but you'll be jobless. The word jobless can be substituted for unemployed. Life can be difficult in a city with a large number of jobless people, and it's especially hard for an older worker to suddenly find herself jobless. The word dates from the early 20th century, and the job at the heart of it comes from the phrase jobbe of worke, or "piece of work," possibly related to gob, "mass or lump."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jobless

Fairbank notes the unemployment rate in June was lower than in February before the Iran conflict began, while jobless claims remain low and job creation has rebounded over the past few months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

It has long been a lifeline for people who live in Campo de Gibraltar, which has historically had one of Spain's highest jobless rates.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

In the eyes of workers, the labor market is not nearly as good as the jobless rate is making it seem — far from it.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026

U.S. jobless claims ticked down last week as the labor market holds onto its “low hire, low fire” attitude.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

They are told to wait and wait for Mr. Right even if that means, in a jobless ghetto, never having children at all.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander