freelance

Or free-lance

[free-lans, -lans]

adjective

1. of or relating to work conducted by a person who sells their services by the hour, day, job, etc., rather than working on a regular salary basis for one employer.

   a freelance writer;

   freelance copyediting.

verb (used without object)

freelanced, freelancing 

1. to sell services by the hour, day, job, etc., rather than working on a regular salary basis for one employer.

   The illustrator used to be employed by us but is freelancing now.

verb (used with object)

freelanced, freelancing 

1. to produce, sell, or accomplish (something) while selling services by the hour, day, job, etc..

   Every so often I freelance a magazine article for some extra cash.

adverb

1. in the manner of one who sells services by the hour, day, job, etc., rather than working on a regular salary basis for one employer.

   She works freelance.

noun

1. freelancer.

2. a person who contends in a cause or in a succession of various causes, as they choose, without personal attachment or allegiance.

freelance

/ ˈfriːˌlɑːns /

noun

1. 1. Also called: freelancer. a self-employed person, esp a writer or artist, who is not employed continuously but hired to do specific assignments

   2. ( as modifier )

      a freelance journalist

2. a person, esp a politician, who supports several causes or parties without total commitment to any one

3. (in medieval Europe) a mercenary soldier or adventurer

verb

1. to work as a freelance on (an assignment, etc)

adverb

1. as a freelance

Word History and Origins

Origin of freelance¹

First recorded in 1810–20; free + lance ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of freelance¹

C19 (in sense 3): later applied to politicians, writers, etc

Example Sentences

As the freelance journalist Adam Ramsay has pointed out, the figure for paid-up members is given elsewhere, in a statement for the party treasurer in the accounts for the Liberal Democrats in England.

Read more on BBC

While Hasson’s Sage is a plausibly strident freelance journalist type, you wonder if she has much experience with female friendship, because Cin’s manipulation is so painfully obvious.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The siege and fighting make it very difficult to get reliable information, but the BBC has worked with freelance journalists inside el-Fasher to get an insight into life for those trapped there.

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The Eagles are playing a freelance schedule this season.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Unlike permanent employees, locum staff operate in a freelance capacity and usually provide short-term cover.

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Related Words

• self-employed