employer

[em-ploi-er]

noun

1. a person or business that employs one or more people, especially for wages or salary.

   a fair employer.

2. a person or thing that makes use of or occupies someone or something.

   an inadequate employer of one's time.

employer

/ ɪmˈplɔɪə /

noun

1. a person, business, firm, etc, that employs workers

2. a person who employs; user

Other Word Forms

• preemployer noun
• proemployer adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of employer¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; employ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Ms Lanuszka was fired from her job in July 2023 after her employer used spy software to track her computer to find out she had been using it for personal matters.

From BBC

OpenAI said it’s working with businesses such as Walmart and John Deere to build a platform that will help employers find workers with AI skills.

From Los Angeles Times

U.S. employers have announced more job cuts in the first eight months of this year than in all of 2024.

From Los Angeles Times

Job cuts so far this year have already surpassed the total for 2024, as government cost-cutting, economic uncertainty and AI have prompted employers to reduce staff.

From Los Angeles Times

A group of healthcare workers in Santa Barbara were fired on Wednesday after posting a video apparently showing patients’ bodily fluids on TikTok, according to their employer.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• boss 
• company 
• corporation 
• entrepreneur 
• executive 
• firm 
• management 
• manager 
• manufacturer 
• organization 
• owner 

When To Use

What does employer mean?

An employer is a person, company, or organization that employs people—pays them for work.The people who are paid to work are called employees. Employers provide employment.Less commonly, employer can mean something that occupies someone or someone that uses something (the word employ can also mean to use), as in Be a good employer of your time. Example: If the factory closes, thousands of people will lose their jobs—it’s the largest employer in the county.