hiree: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Business, HR (Human Resources)
Quick answer
What does “hiree” mean?
A person who has been hired.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who has been hired; a newly appointed employee.
Specifically refers to an individual who has accepted and started a job offer, as distinct from a candidate or applicant. It can also refer to a person engaged for temporary or contract work.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word itself is used in both varieties, but the underlying concept of 'hire' differs. In AmE, 'hire' is generic for employing someone. In BrE, 'hire' more commonly refers to renting objects, while 'recruit' or 'take on' is often used for people.
Connotations
In AmE, 'hiree' is a straightforward, slightly formal HR term. In BrE, it can sound like an Americanism or overly technical jargon, where 'new recruit' or 'new starter' might be more natural.
Frequency
More frequently encountered in American business and HR contexts. Rare in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “hiree” in a Sentence
[Company/Department] welcomed its new hiree.The hiree [verb: started/signed/completed]...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hiree” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - 'hiree' is a noun.
American English
- N/A - 'hiree' is a noun.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in HR documents, onboarding materials, and internal communications to refer to a person who has just been employed.
Academic
Rare; might appear in sociology or business studies texts discussing labour markets.
Everyday
Very rare; most people would say 'new employee' or 'someone they've just hired.'
Technical
Specific to Human Resources and recruitment fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hiree”
- Misspelling as 'hierce' or 'hirey'.
- Using it as an active agent (e.g., 'The hiree hired someone' is incorrect).
- Overusing in casual conversation where simpler terms exist.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word used primarily in formal business or HR contexts. Terms like 'new employee' or 'recruit' are more common in everyday language.
An 'employee' is anyone working for a company. A 'hiree' specifically refers to someone who has *recently* been hired, emphasising the event of their recruitment.
Yes, it can refer to anyone engaged for work, permanent or temporary, as long as the focus is on the act of them being hired.
The direct opposite in the hiring transaction is 'hirer' (the employer/recruiter). In a broader sense, a former employee who has been let go is an antonym.
A person who has been hired.
Hiree is usually formal, business, hr (human resources) in register.
Hiree: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪəˈriː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪərˈiː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Hire' + 'EE' (like 'employEE'). The '-ee' ending tells you this person RECEIVES the action—they are the one who gets hired.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMPLOYMENT IS ACQUISITION (the hiree is the acquired object/person).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary relationship indicated by the word 'hiree'?