noun
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a person or firm that contracts to supply materials or labour, esp for building
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something that contracts, esp a muscle
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law a person who is a party to a contract
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the declarer in bridge
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of contractor
From Late Latin, dating back to 1540–50; see origin at 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.
Vocabulary lists containing contractor
The Circuit
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Structural Engineering
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -er, -or
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"It's a waste of money," said Pat Osiecki, a 65-year-old retired contractor.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
They moved out for the first time in the new year, while Stonebridge Homes agreed to send in a contractor to carry out remedial work.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
The company has said it won’t act as general contractor or assume the risk of building an entire power plant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Its investments include some of the world’s top young companies, including OpenAI, SpaceX and rapidly expanding Southern California defense contractor Anduril.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
‘We need those tree stumps out of here by tomorrow,’ the contractor said.
From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez
“Our contractors and architect brought in experts for woodwork restoration and slate-roof replacement.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
Eight cases of federal contractors flouting cybersecurity rules were settled last year, and more are expected.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
During that period, contractors are barred from making donations to elected officials with power over their contracts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
In a leadership position managing over 200 people, many of them contractors, office collections were common as staff churn was frequent.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Stanton weeded out unfit and incompetent officers; battled dishonest government contractors who sold the army low-quality uniforms, rotting equipment, and defective weapons; and endured an epidemic of officers who would not fight.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
