employment

UK: /ɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ US: /ɛmˈplɔɪmənt/ ,(em ploi′mənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

em•ploy•ment /ɛmˈplɔɪmənt/   n. [uncountable]

1. an act or instance of employing a person or thing:
   The plan requires the employment of great ingenuity.
2. the state of being employed:
   to begin employment.
3. work or business;
   occupation:
   She no longer had regular employment.

See -ploy-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

em•ploy•ment  (em ploi′mənt), n. 

1. an act or instance of employing someone or something.
2. the state of being employed;
   employ;
   service:
   to begin or terminate employment.
3. an occupation by which a person earns a living;
   work;
   business.
4. the total number of people gainfully employed or working.
5. an activity or the like that occupies a person's time:
   She found knitting a comforting employment for her idle hours.

• employ + -ment 1585–95

Synonyms

• 3. . vocation, calling; job, trade, profession.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

employment / ɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ noun

1. the act of employing or state of being employed
2. the work or occupation in which a person is employed