Origin: Latin suffix -ment
Employment has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
the state of being employed or having a job
"they are looking for employment"
"he was in the employ of the city"
the occupation for which you are paid
"he is looking for employment"
"a lot of people are out of work"
the act of giving someone a job
"The city council voted to approve employment for fifty new teachers at the high school."
the act of using
"he warned against the use of narcotic drugs"
"skilled in the utilization of computers"
The work or occupation for which one is used, and often paid
"After graduating from college, she found stable employment as a graphic designer at a local advertising firm."
In plain English: Employment is the state of having a job where you work for money.
"He found employment at the local bakery last week."
Usage: Employment refers to the state of having a job rather than the specific duties performed within that role. Use it when discussing someone's overall status as being employed, not when describing individual tasks.
The word employment comes from the verb employ, which entered English via Middle French and ultimately traces back to the Latin root meaning "to fold" or "involve." The suffix -ment was added to this verb to create a noun describing the state of being employed.