nonworking

[ non-wur-king ]

adjective

1. not employed for a salary, fees, or wages; not producing or generating income:

   Our employee medical plan also covers nonworking spouses.

2. not involved in or deriving from labor; not engaged in or directed toward work, especially as an employee:

   What are some of your nonworking activities?

3. not functioning or operating:

   a nonworking coffee grinder.

nonworking

/ nɒnˈwɜːkɪŋ /

adjective

1. not engaged in payed employment

   nonworking mothers

2. (of machinery, technology, etc) not operating properly or effectively

   nonworking telephones

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonworking¹

First recorded in 1850–55; non- + working

Example Sentences

For instance, the researchers found that the decline in child-care time was bigger for nonworking, college-educated mothers of young children than older children.

From Science News

Meanwhile, nonworking, college-educated mothers decreased time spent with children by 7 percent, from 176 minutes to 164 minutes on average.

From Science News

For instance, nonworking mothers without a high school degree spent, on average, 120 minutes per day parenting in the earlier surveys.

From Science News

A nonworking working class may not be immiserated; neither will its members ever find a way to rise above their station.

From The Daily Beast

A group of nonworking Lithuanian women heard that neglected children were reported to the settlement in the neighborhood.

From Project Gutenberg

A trend downward in employment—nonworking population increasing by about .0001 per cent annually.

From Project Gutenberg

All election dates are set on weekends or nonworking days to ensure continuous work production.

From Project Gutenberg