What is "employment at will"

alt. (context legal English) A traditional principle of law, recognized in some jurisdictions, which holds that, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, an employment relationship can be terminated at any time by the employer or employee, for any reason or for no reason whatever. n. (context legal English) A traditional principle of law, recognized in some jurisdictions, which holds that, in the absence of a contract to the contrary, an employment relationship can be terminated at any time by the employer or employee, for any reason or for no reason whatever.