employer

noun

em·​ploy·​er im-ˈplȯi-ər How to pronounce employer (audio)
em-
plural employers
: one that employs or makes use of something or somebody
… it is one of the most aggressive employers of the dreaded pop-up ads that effloresce across one's video screen like a sudden and unpleasant rash …Christopher Orr
especially : a person or company that provides a job paying wages or a salary to one or more people
Private household workers usually work in pleasant and comfortable homes or apartments. Most are dayworkers who live in their own homes and travel to work. Some live in the home of their employer, generally with their own room and bath. Occupational Outlook Handbook
One of Hiroshima's main contributions to the post-war economic miracle of Japan is the Mazda car plant, the single largest employer in Hiroshima. Michael Dillon
… choose a classic health-insurance plan—if your employer still makes one available. Laura Johannes

Examples of employer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Since then, clients have hired him to name and shame employers and businesses in various fields — food service, the garment industry, construction workers. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Young millennial and Gen Z employees are growing increasingly detached from their jobs and employers. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 In the 1960s and 1970s, TWA employed as many as 10,000 workers at the facility and was one of Kansas City’s biggest employers. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024 All of the employers described their respective job cuts as permanent. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Over-the-counter drugs can also be paid for or reimbursed through flexible spending or health savings accounts, the company said, and may be available through employers. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2024 As in 2019, the employer’s response may be crucial. Noam Scheiber, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 Both employees and employers should be comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity inherent in zig-zagging development paths, understanding that unconventional approaches can yield long-term benefits and unique advantages. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 In January, the NLRB sent a cease-and-desist letter to both employers for failing to bargain with the union. Danielle Abril, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'employer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of employer was in 1595

Dictionary Entries Near employer

Cite this Entry

“Employer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/employer. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

employer

noun
em·​ploy·​er
im-ˈplȯi(-ə)r
: one that employs others

Legal Definition

employer

noun
em·​ploy·​er
: one that hires others to perform a service or engage in an activity in exchange for compensation see also respondeat superior
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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