Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

un|emo|tion|al /ʌ n I moʊ ʃən ^ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone as unemotional , you mean that they do not show any feelings. □  British men are often seen as being reserved and unemotional. □  She began to read in a brisk, unemotional voice. ●  un|emo|tion|al|ly ADV [ADV after v] □  McKinnon looked at him unemotionally.

un|em|ploya|ble /ʌ n I mplɔ I əb ^ə l/ ADJ Someone who is unemployable does not have a job and is unlikely to get a job, because they do not have the skills or abilities that an employer might want. □  He freely admits he is unemployable and will probably never find a job.

un|em|ployed /ʌ n I mplɔ I d/ ADJ Someone who is unemployed does not have a job. □  This workshop helps young unemployed people in Grimsby. □  Have you been unemployed for over six months? ● N‑PLURAL The unemployed are people who are unemployed. □  We want to create jobs for the unemployed.

un|em|ploy|ment ◆◇◇ /ʌ n I mplɔ I mənt/ N‑UNCOUNT Unemployment is the fact that people who want jobs cannot get them. □  …an area that had the highest unemployment rate in the country. □  Unemployment is so damaging both to individuals and to communities.

u n|em|plo y|ment ben|efit N‑UNCOUNT Unemployment benefit is money that some people receive from the state when they do not have a job and are unable to find one. □  In 1986 more than three million were receiving unemployment benefit.

u n|em|plo y|ment line (unemployment lines ) N‑COUNT When people talk about the unemployment line , they are talking about the state of being unemployed, especially when saying how many people are unemployed. [AM ] □  Many white-collar workers find themselves in the unemployment lines.

un|end|ing /ʌne nd I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as unending , you mean that it continues without stopping for a very long time. □  …the country's seemingly unending cycle of political violence.

un|en|dur|able /ʌ n I ndjʊə rəb ^ə l, [AM ] -dʊ r-/ ADJ If you describe a bad situation as unendurable , you mean that it is so extremely unpleasant that you have to end it. [FORMAL ] □  Isaac had found the work unendurable and walked out of the job. □  It has placed an almost unendurable strain on their relationship.

un|en|vi|able /ʌne nviəb ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a situation or task as unenviable , you mean that nobody would enjoy dealing with it because it is very difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant. □  She had the unenviable task of making the first few phone calls. □  It put me in the unenviable position of having to lie.

un|equal /ʌ niː kwəl/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An unequal system or situation is unfair because it gives more power or privileges to one person or group of people than to others. □  This country still had a deeply oppressive, unequal and divisive political system. □  …the unequal power relationships between men and women. □  …unequal pay. ●  un|equal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  …unequally distributed assets. □  The victims were treated unequally.

2 ADJ If someone is unequal to a task they have to do, they do not have the abilities needed to do it well. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] He felt unequal to the job and wished there were someone he could go to for advice.

3 ADJ Unequal means being different in size, strength, or amount. □  The Egyptians probably measured their day in twenty-four hours of unequal length.