contractor

American  

[kon-trak-ter, kuhn-trak-ter] / ˈkɒn træk tər, kənˈtræk tər /

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.

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contractor British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of contractor

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

Explanation

A contractor is someone who is hired to build something. As a contractor at a building site, it is highly recommended you keep your hard hat on at all times. When you think of contractor, you may picture construction sites; however, the word has other meanings as well. Legally, if you sign a contract to perform a specific job then you are what is known as a contractor. When there are not many full-time jobs available for workers, sometimes the only option is to become a freelance contractor, which might mean that you only work part-time or when needed.

Example Sentences

He suggested the contractor on the job “is probably one of the richest men in the country right now.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Hanan Balkhy, the WHO's regional director, described the killing of the contractor as "a devastating loss" and warned that the suspension of medical evacuations was "cutting off a critical pathway to care for patients".

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

The company has reportedly become Maven's primary technology contractor, and its AI now forms the operational backbone of the program.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

However, a contractor cautioned Joseph that the bricks would be expensive to replace if chipped during the stripping process.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

A contractor by trade, he focused on commercial infrastructure projects, like plumbing and heating; he was a Republican, like most of the legislators, but a moderate one.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel