2 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that there is unease in a situation, you mean that people are dissatisfied or angry, but have not yet started to take any action. □ [+ among ] He faces growing unease among ministers about the likelihood of war. □ [+ about ] …the depth of public unease about the economy.
un|easy /ʌniː zi/
1 ADJ If you are uneasy , you feel anxious, afraid, or embarrassed, because you think that something is wrong or that there is danger. □ He looked uneasy and refused to answer questions. □ I had an uneasy feeling that he was going to spoil it. ● un|easi|ly /ʌniː z I li/ ADV [usu ADV after v, oft ADV adj] □ Meg shifted uneasily on her chair. □ He laughed uneasily. ● un|easi|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ With a small degree of uneasiness, he pushed it open and stuck his head inside.
2 ADJ If you are uneasy about doing something, you are not sure that it is correct or wise. □ [+ about ] Richard was uneasy about how best to approach his elderly mother. ● un|easi|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ about ] I felt a great uneasiness about meeting her again.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a situation or relationship as uneasy , you mean that the situation is not settled and may not last. [JOURNALISM ] □ An uneasy calm has settled over the city. □ The uneasy alliance between these two men offered a glimmer of hope. ● un|easi|ly ADV [usu ADV after v, oft ADV adj] □ …a country whose component parts fit uneasily together.
un|eco|nom|ic /ʌ niːkənɒ m I k, -ek-/
1 ADJ If you describe something such as an industry or business as uneconomic , you mean that it does not produce enough profit. [BUSINESS ] □ …the closure of uneconomic factories. □ The company said the service was uneconomic.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that an action or plan is uneconomic , you think it will cost a lot of money and not be successful or not be worth the expense. □ It would be uneconomic to try and repair it.
un|eco|nomi|cal /ʌ niːkənɒ m I k ə l, -ek-/ ADJ If you say that an action, a method, or a product is uneconomical , you mean that it does not make a profit. [BUSINESS ] □ It would be uneconomical to send a brand new book. □ The methods employed are old-fashioned and uneconomical. □ Even the successful flying boats proved, in the end, uneconomical.
un|edu|cat|ed /ʌ ne dʒʊke I t I d/ ADJ Someone who is uneducated has not received much education. □ Though an uneducated man, Chavez was not a stupid one. ● N‑PLURAL The uneducated are people who are uneducated. □ The poor and uneducated did worst under these reforms.
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.