employer

American  

[em-ploi-er] / ɛmˈplɔɪ ər /

noun

employers plural

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.

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employer British  

/ ɪmˈplɔɪə /

noun

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

2. a person who employs; user

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preemployer
  noun
• proemployer
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• employers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of employer

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

Explanation

An employer is the person or organization that you work for. Can't find a job? Look at the bright side: you don't have to cater to the whims of any employer! The verb employ means "to make use of." An employer hires an employee, or worker, in order to employ him at various tasks. A factory owner is an employer who might hire people to work on an assembly line. If you're a teacher, then your school is your employer. If you’re lucky enough to have a generous employer, then you’ll probably want to stay at your job for a while!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

employer employers

Rana’s most recent employer, the private-equity firm Bregal Sagemount, terminated his employment in the beginning of April, a company spokeswoman previously told the Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Ministers have stressed the refinery's strategic importance as a major employer in rural western Ireland and a key supplier to aluminium smelters in Sweden and France which in turn supply European heavy industry.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

Her employer, Clay, scaled back work for a week so employees could travel to this retreat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

Employee and employer contributions can’t exceed $72,000 in 2026.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

Through the open door she could see her employer pacing up and down with a desolate air.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Japan and Germany though have a mandatory long-term care insurance system which is funded through contributions from workers and employers.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

For months, major employers treated hiring as an expensive last resort.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

"They will be able to spend time with employers and gain real-world experience," it said.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

Fewer kids means less support for public schools, often one of the largest employers in many cities, and tough choices as classrooms empty out.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

What these tests tell employers about potential employees is hard to imagine, since the “right” answers should be obvious to anyone who has ever encountered the principle of hierarchy and subordination.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Related Words

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