Noun

(IPA: /?n.?m?pl??.m?nt /)

The state of having no job; joblessness.

Unemployment made Jack depressed.

The phenomenon of joblessness in an economy.

Unemployment has been considered a cause of crime.

The level of joblessness in an economy, often measured as a percentage of the workforce.

Unemployment was reported at 5.2% in May, up from 4.9% in April.

(countable) A type of joblessness due to a particular economic mechanism.

All unemployments , seasonal, frictional, cyclical, classical, whatever, mean that you're out of work.

(countable) An instance or period of joblessness.

Until them his life had consisted of low-paying jobs, numberous unemployments , and drug use.

Noun

(uncountable) Health, safety, happiness and prosperity; well-being in any respect.

* , chapter=19

, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare . Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.}}

(uncountable, chiefly, US) Various forms of financial aid provided by the government to those who are in need of it (abbreviated form of Welfare assistance ).