freelancer

American  

[free-lan-ser] / ˈfriˌlæn sər /

Also free lancer,

noun

1. a person who works as a writer, designer, performer, or the like, selling work or services by the hour, day, job, etc., rather than working on a regular salary basis for one employer.

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Etymology

Origin of freelancer

First recorded in 1920–25; freelance ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

"So when you download software, when an SME uses the cloud, when a freelancer sells a design service abroad, there are no taxes at the border," she said.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Prior to joining the Journal in 2017, Jon worked as a freelancer in Indonesia, where he wrote for the New York Times, Washington Post and Financial Times.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

A freelancer based in Tawila gathered interviews for the BBC.

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2025

The reporting won him the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting, making him the first freelancer ever to win in that category.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

When this issue was raised during a recent journalist debate, Rajan side-stepped it by raising the issue of whether one was a staffer or freelancer while writing for the paper.

From Behind the News: Voices from Goa's Press by Various

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