employer

[em-ploi-er]

noun

1. a person or business that employs one or more people, especially for wages or salary.

   a fair employer.

2. a person or thing that makes use of or occupies someone or something.

   an inadequate employer of one's time.

employer

/ ɪmˈplɔɪə /

noun

1. a person, business, firm, etc, that employs workers

2. a person who employs; user

Other Word Forms

• preemployer noun
• proemployer adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of employer¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; employ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

That includes the federal I-9 form — paperwork required by U.S. law that employers must complete for every new hire to verify identity and work eligibility.

From Salon

Mr Singh, a software engineering manager based in the Seattle area, knew that his employer - a US startup - would not be in a position to pay the fee on top of his current salary.

From BBC

U.S. employers came to see the H-1B visas as tools to replace native-born technicians with cheaper foreign workers.

From Los Angeles Times

Libertarians like Paul have consistently embraced the concept of private tyranny, where one’s employer is entitled to rule as a strongman, but this is not even that.

From Salon

Since his firing, Alter has sued his former employer.

From Salon

Related Words

• boss 
• company 
• corporation 
• entrepreneur 
• executive 
• firm 
• management 
• manager 
• manufacturer 
• organization 
• owner 

When To Use

What does employer mean?

An employer is a person, company, or organization that employs people—pays them for work.The people who are paid to work are called employees. Employers provide employment.Less commonly, employer can mean something that occupies someone or someone that uses something (the word employ can also mean to use), as in Be a good employer of your time. Example: If the factory closes, thousands of people will lose their jobs—it’s the largest employer in the county.