unpaid
Britishadjective
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(of a bill, debt, etc) not yet paid
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working without pay
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having wages outstanding
Explanation
If a job is unpaid, that means you do it without receiving any money in return. Your unpaid internship at the town newspaper will give you lots of experience, but no income. An unpaid worker hasn't received their paycheck yet, and an unpaid bill means you haven't sent the money you owe to the electric company or dog walker. This adjective is also useful for describing volunteer work, like an unpaid position at the local animal shelter. Unpaid was first coined in the 14th century, from un-, "not," and pay, which has a Latin root meaning "satisfy a creditor," or literally "make peace."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Robb said he served as an unpaid advisor and spokesperson for Bass through the June 2 mayoral primary.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 12, 2026
Without these kinds of benefits — and even with them — caregivers struggle to balance paid work with an unpaid job that can often be all-consuming.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026
In January, a judge ordered the company to pay $413,000 in unpaid wages and severance.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026
However, Polanski said the council has yet to tell him whether he faces a bill for unpaid tax - and claimed he may not owe anything at all.
From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026
He decided to go up anyway, even if his trip was unpaid for.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
