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

Consultants and lawyers say most large employers are currently reluctant to adopt higher-fee products for fear of being sued by plan members for mismanagement.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Private coaching isn't always welcomed by the players' employers.

Read more on BBC

The federal safety enforcer requires employers to immediately report only incidents of lost limbs or eyes, inpatient hospitalization or death.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A local television producer, who holds US citizenship, was arrested by federal agents during immigration enforcement operations on Chicago's North Side, her employer WGN said.

Read more on Barron's

As employees become more open about how menopause-related symptoms like fatigue and brain fog affect them on the job, employers are offering benefits.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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.