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

See Examples For:

unpaid

But many of Reddit’s de facto rulers—the unpaid, mostly-anonymous moderators who police each subreddit and wield automated management tools—are determined to keep any other whiff of marketing out of the organic feeds they lovingly cultivate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

He sentenced him to two years' probation and 300 hours' unpaid work to be completed within 18 months.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Several people have suggested that we simply let the situation unfold — that unpaid bills, creditors or Medicaid will ultimately determine what happens as his needs increase.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

Chen said Bo, Panshi and another associate had loaned more than $2 million to the developers of an apartment complex, prompting lawsuits over unpaid debts and control of the property.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

Maybe his wealth was. entirely in unpaid bills.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• delinquent
• outstanding
• overdue