unpaid

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'unpaid' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has not been paid for. For example: "The family had several unpaid bills that needed to be taken care of."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We need to recognise that when we talk about the economic contribution of women, that we should recognise the vast amount of unpaid work that is already done by Australian women, just perhaps not appreciated the way it should be," he said.

The Guardian

Faced with demands for millions in unpaid taxes on commissions he had taken from broadcasting contracts, Blazer agreed to plead guilty and blow the whistle on other top Fifa executives.

The Guardian - Sport

I studied at university for seven years, undertook unpaid internships and have a career development loan at a figure that would cover the deposit for a pretty decent house.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Third Sector Business Charity Awards highlighted the life-changing impact of The Co-operative's Charity of the year partnership with Carers Trust after colleagues, members and customers raised £6m to boost support, services and opportunities for thousands of unpaid young adult carers.

The Guardian

What are those forced to work unpaid for 30 hours a week for up to six months a year on workfare schemes (in order to maintain £73.10 weekly jobseeker's allowance) to make of some of the figures that bombard us daily?

The Guardian

There is no single, accepted UK definition, but it was described in 2005 in the code of the Compact, the framework agreement between government and civil society, as "an activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or individuals or groups other than [or in addition to] close relatives".

The Guardian

"I always make sure I can see the Twitter screen on my laptop when I am writing," self-publishing author Ben Galley declares, just one of an army of unpaid e-authors who rise at dawn to promote themselves on social media before their paid job.

The Guardian - Opinion

We've found teachers are highly motivated by the process; it is voluntary, self-directed and unpaid, yet they engage with it because of the rewards that this level of rigour brings.

The Guardian

An unpaid internship came up in the communications department of a charity.

The Guardian

Actors know only too well that days spent contemplating the job centre and the increasing pile of unpaid bills is too dismal a business to reclassify with such an arch description.

The Guardian

Families collapse under pressure from unpaid bills, as angry workless parents or adult children at home grow more depressed and unemployable.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unpaid" to specify a lack of payment where payment is normally expected, such as "unpaid bills" or "unpaid taxes". This contrasts with situations where payment is never expected (e.g. a gift).

Common error

Avoid using "unpaid" when you mean "underpaid". "Unpaid" means no payment was made, while "underpaid" means the payment was less than what was due. Using the wrong term can lead to miscommunication and potential legal issues.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unpaid" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate the absence of payment. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage as described by the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unpaid" functions as an adjective to denote the absence of payment, as validated by Ludwig AI. Its usage is frequent across diverse contexts such as news, business, and general discussions. The term carries a neutral register and effectively serves to clarify the financial aspect of a situation. Alternatives such as "without remuneration" or "unsalaried" can be used to express similar meanings. However, it's essential to differentiate between "unpaid" and "underpaid" to ensure accurate communication. By avoiding these common errors, writers can use the word effectively in many situations. The frequent use of "unpaid" in reputable sources like The Guardian and The Economist underscores its relevance in modern English communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsalaried

Directly states the absence of a regular salary.

without remuneration

Emphasizes the lack of compensation for services or work.

non-compensated

Highlights the absence of payment for a task or service.

unrecompensed

Highlights the lack of any form of repayment or reward.

at no cost

Emphasizes that there is no financial burden involved.

free of charge

Indicates that something is provided at no cost.

voluntary

Stresses the willing nature of the work, implying no expectation of payment.

pro bono

Specifically refers to professional services provided without charge, particularly legal work.

gratis

Denotes something given or done without any payment or charge.

complimentary

Suggests something offered as a courtesy, without charge.

FAQs

How can I use "unpaid" in a sentence?

You can use "unpaid" to describe debts, work, or leave. For example: "The company had several "unpaid bills"", "She did an "unpaid internship"", or "He took "unpaid leave" from work".

What's the difference between "unpaid" and "voluntary"?

"Unpaid" simply means no payment is received. "Voluntary" implies that the work is done willingly and without expectation of payment. Something can be "unpaid work" without being voluntary if it's forced, like slavery.

What are some alternatives to saying "unpaid"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "without remuneration", "unsalaried", or "free of charge". The best choice depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "unpaid internship"?

Yes, "unpaid internship" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase. It indicates an internship where the intern does not receive any monetary compensation for their work.