jobless

American  

[job-lis] / ˈdʒɒb lɪs /

adjective

1. without a job.

2. noting or pertaining to people without jobs, especially to those who are seeking employment.

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noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. unemployed people collectively, especially those who are seeking a job.

jobless British  

/ ˈdʒɒblɪs /

adjective

1. 1. unemployed

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the jobless

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Other Word Forms

• joblessness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of jobless

First recorded in 1800–10; job ¹ + -less

Explanation

If you're jobless, you don't currently have a job. If you quit your early morning job at the donut shop, you'll be able to sleep late again, but you'll be jobless. The word jobless can be substituted for unemployed. Life can be difficult in a city with a large number of jobless people, and it's especially hard for an older worker to suddenly find herself jobless. The word dates from the early 20th century, and the job at the heart of it comes from the phrase jobbe of worke, or "piece of work," possibly related to gob, "mass or lump."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jobless

U.S. jobless claims fell to 197,000 in the week through Oct.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Just three years ago, only half as many people were jobless for such a long period.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

The Mail refers to this as a "'rescue package' for jobless youngsters"

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

U.S. jobless claims fell to 197,000 in the week through Sept. 26, marking the fourth consecutive weekly decline.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Soon after his private investigation of New Century, Park had a phone call from a penniless, jobless old college friend who had been offered several loans from banks to buy a house he couldn’t afford.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis