employed

American  

[em-ploid] / ɛmˈplɔɪd /

adjective

1. given employment, or paid work; hired, especially permanently by inclusion on a payroll.

   The comedy revolves around a beauty salon owner and her newly employed male stylist.

2. applied or used; made use of.

   In the study, drilling with flashcards was the least frequently employed strategy for language learning.

3. kept busy or engaged with some work or activity.

   I never feel usefully employed in science except when I'm actually gathering data.

4. (of time, energies, etc.) occupied; devoted to some pursuit.

   Working on my quilt gave me many happily employed hours.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of employ.

Other Word Forms

• de-employed
  adjective
• well-employed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of employed

First recorded in 1560–70; employ ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; employ ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Explanation

Someone who's employed has a job or is busy with something. Some people believe that employed teenagers get themselves in less trouble than those without jobs. If you're working, you're employed. Most employed people work traditional full-time jobs, although an increasing number of them are freelancers or have part-time positions. Another way to use this adjective is to mean "used," as when you say, "The employed methods for keeping the classroom calm seem a little extreme to me." The adjective employed comes from the related verb, employ, "use, apply, occupy, or hire."

Example Sentences

Job seekers aren’t the only ones feeling downward pressure on salaries: Employed people can’t assume the customary pay bump is coming this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Employed only as a pitcher, he seems boring next to the goose-bump-inducing Ohtani.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

Employed for much of his life as a painter in a factory, Mykola would spend hours by the window, gazing at the view and producing his works.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 29, 2024

Both the Large Business and International Division, and the Small Business/Self Employed Division, are going to be involved in the effort.

From Washington Times • Sep. 5, 2023

Employed by British Government in preparation of the British Case in the British Guiana-Venezuelan and British Guiana-Brazilian boundary arbitrations.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Appendix Author List by Various

Related Words

• engaged
• hired
• occupied