freelance

American  

[free-lans, -lans] / ˈfriˌlæns, -ˈlæns /

Or free-lance

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

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

adverb

1. as a freelance

Etymology

Origin of freelance

First recorded in 1810–20; free + lance ¹

Example Sentences

The author is a freelance writer in Sherman Oaks.

From Los Angeles Times

For example, you might curb your income by taking some time off work or declining freelance projects, says Kevin Knauss, a health insurance agent in California who helps clients in this arena.

From Barron's

After moving to the island in 2015, he met Lara Fuller, a freelance photographer who two years later would become his wife and then the mother of his children, son Haile and daughter Wren.

From Los Angeles Times

He finds freelance work inconsistent and it doesn’t make up for his past salary.

From The Wall Street Journal

Patrick is a freelance critic and author of the memoir “Life B.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• self-employed