unpaid

Everyday

1. (of a bill or money) Not paid yet: unpaid bills. tree →
2. (of work or a person) Done or working without getting money: unpaid work, an unpaid helper. tree →
3. Unpaid leave: time off work without pay. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and maths, unpaid bills are money still owed: total cost − amount paid = unpaid amount. Volunteers do unpaid work to help others. In news, unpaid fines lead to more trouble. Parents caring at home do a lot of unpaid work.

Examples

• The letter was about an unpaid bill. tree →
• Volunteers do unpaid work at the animal shelter. tree →
• The bike cost $150 and Sam has paid $90, so $60 is still unpaid. tree →
• She took unpaid leave to look after her baby. tree →
• Unpaid fines can grow bigger. tree →
• Helping at home is unpaid but important. tree →
• Finding that the cause of this punishment is an unpaid debt of fifty roubles, Nikita ransoms the greybeard, who straightway disappears. tree →

Note

Opposite: paid. Unpaid ≠ free: something unpaid may still be owed. In maths, unpaid = total − paid so far.