self-employment

American  

[self-em-ploi-muhnt, self-] / ˈsɛlf ɛmˈplɔɪ mənt, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. the act or fact of being self-employed.

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Usage

What does self-employment mean? Self-employment is the state of being self-employed—earning one's main income by getting paid directly for one’s work, such as by owning one's own business, as opposed to being an employee and getting paid by an employer. Self-employment is typically used in a way that refers to a person’s primary, full-time way of earning income—as opposed to working as an employee and doing freelance work on the side, for example. The term self-employed is often used by and applied to people who consider themselves business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. Example: I love self-employment—my boss is amazing.

Etymology

Origin of self-employment

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

At the other, far larger end, most of the increase is in self-employment and unpaid or home-based work, often within households or family enterprises.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

I was living in France on a self-employment visa, barely scraping by as a copywriter and freelance journalist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

AI can’t consistently provide accurate answers to tax questions and isn’t reliable when it comes to math calculations or interpreting complex issues like international, self-employment and state tax law.

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

“Credits are based on your total wages and self-employment income for the year,” according to the SSA.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 16, 2026

In addition to the financial strain of exchanging a steady paycheck for the vagaries of self-employment, Walt’s separation from his first wife left him with two families to support.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer