rehire: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral to formal, common in business and professional contexts.
Quick answer
What does “rehire” mean?
To employ someone again after they have previously worked for the same employer.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To employ someone again after they have previously worked for the same employer.
To bring back into a position, role, or service, often implying renewal of a prior agreement or relationship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant meaning differences; spelling and pronunciation are similar, but hyphenation may vary (e.g., 're-hire' in some British styles).
Connotations
Associated with corporate or organizational decisions in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in British and American English, particularly in human resources and business discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “rehire” in a Sentence
transitive: rehire + object (e.g., rehire an employee)passive: be rehired by + employerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rehire” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The firm opted to rehire several former staff after the merger.
American English
- The company plans to rehire the workers who were furloughed last quarter.
adjective
British English
- She is a rehired consultant with specialised knowledge.
American English
- The rehired employee received an updated benefits package.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Frequently used in human resources discussions for re-employment after downsizing, leave, or organizational changes.
Academic
Occasionally appears in labor economics or organizational behavior studies.
Everyday
Used when discussing someone returning to a previous job, but less common in casual conversation.
Technical
Specific to employment law, HR management, and corporate policies.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rehire”
- Using 'rehire' as a noun without clear context (e.g., 'the rehire' is less standard), or inconsistent hyphenation (e.g., 're-hire' vs. 'rehire').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is more frequent in business or professional settings, but can appear in everyday speech when discussing job returns.
Yes, though less common; it can refer to the act of rehiring or a person who is rehired, but it is primarily a verb.
They are synonyms, but 'rehire' is more specific to job employment, while 're-employ' might have broader applications.
In British English, it is pronounced /ˌriːˈhaɪə(r)/, with a schwa sound in the second syllable.
To employ someone again after they have previously worked for the same employer.
Rehire is usually neutral to formal, common in business and professional contexts. in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 're-' meaning again and 'hire' meaning to employ, so rehire is to employ again.
Conceptual Metaphor
Recycling or renewing a resource; often framed as giving a second chance or restoring a professional relationship.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'rehire'?