employable

UK: /ɪmˈplɔɪəb^əl/ US: (em ploi′ə bəl)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

em•ploy•a•ble  (em ploi′ə bəl), adj. 

1. able to be employed;
   usable.
2. capable of holding a job and available for hire.

n. 

3. a person who is able to work and is available to be hired.

• employ + -able 1685–95

em•ploy′a•bil′i•ty, n. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

em•ploy /ɛmˈplɔɪ/   v. [~ + object]

1. to hire the services of (a person or persons):
   The cotton mill employs over three thousand workers.
2. to make use of for a specific task:
   They employed new computers to produce the catalog.
3. to devote (time, energies, etc.) to a particular activity:
   She employs her spare time in reading.

n. [uncountable]

4. employment;
   service.

em•ploy•a•ble, adj. 
em•ploy•er, n. [countable] See -ploy-.
Related Words

employ is a verb and a noun, employment, employer, and employee are nouns, employable is an adjective:
He employs unskilled workers in his factory. Is she still in their employ? Employment is down. His employer fired him. The employees don't like the boss. You aren't employable without computer skills.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

em•ploy  (em ploi′), v.t. 

1. to hire or engage the services of (a person or persons);
   provide employment for;
   have or keep in one's service:
   This factory employs thousands of people.
2. to keep busy or at work;
   engage the attentions of:
   He employs himself by reading after work.
3. to make use of (an instrument, means, etc.);
   use;
   apply:
   to employ a hammer to drive a nail.
4. to occupy or devote (time, energies, etc.):
   I employ my spare time in reading. I employ all my energies in writing.

n. 

5. employment;
   service:
   to be in someone's employ.

• Anglo-French, Middle French emploier Latin implicāre to enfold (Late Latin: to engage); see implicate
• late Middle English employen 1425–75