contractor

[ kon-trak-ter, kuhn-trak-ter ]

noun

1. a person who contracts to furnish supplies or perform work at a certain price or rate.
2. something that contracts, especially a muscle.
3. Bridge. the player or team who makes the final bid.

contractor

/ kənˈtræk-; ˈkɒntræktə /

noun

1. a person or firm that contracts to supply materials or labour, esp for building
2. something that contracts, esp a muscle
3. law a person who is a party to a contract
4. the declarer in bridge

Word History and Origins

Origin of contractor¹

From Late Latin, dating back to 1540–50; contract, -tor

Example Sentences

Fire is not just for professionals, not just for government employees and their contractors.

From ProPublica

Recently released emails and other documents by the city suggest that as those violations began to roll late last year, the relationship between city managers and its general contractor began to strain.

From Voice of San Diego

When the government hires private contractors, it will enter into a “blackout” period where communications must take place in official channels.

From Quartz

The SpaceX Dragon demonstration trip, which began May 30, was the first time a private contractor had flown National Aeronautics and Space Administration personnel aboard a private spacecraft.

From Fortune

The county data only reflects county employees and does not include roughly 100 additional contact tracers who have been hired as contractors.

From Voice of San Diego

Korte Luitjohan Contractors An Illinois-based full-service construction contractor.

From The Daily Beast

Servis, a general contractor, was baffled by how introverted Stone acted.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, that trail seems to lead to another Spinal Solutions contractor, Ryan Zavilenski.

From The Daily Beast

Ichikowitz is the executive chairman of Paramount Group, the largest privately-owned defense contractor on the African continent.

From The Daily Beast

Doyle, officially a contractor, said he was told that he was being let go as part of a program of layoffs at the New Mexico lab.

From The Daily Beast

A rider or driver employed by a contractor for carrying the mails is an assistant in the business of the government.

From Project Gutenberg

Suppose the contractor's failure did not in fact result in any loss whatever to the other party?

From Project Gutenberg

After the abbey had been dismantled, the church was sold to a contractor, who proceeded to tear it down for the material.

From Project Gutenberg

By the latter relationship one is an independent contractor and excluded from the acts.

From Project Gutenberg

A workman, therefore, who is employed by a government contractor is not an employee of the government.

From Project Gutenberg