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

During his time on the police beat and as a freelancer, Harris developed a fascination with crime and close proximity to its cast of characters from suspected murderers to homicide detectives.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

He later worked as a freelancer in Brussels for two years, covering European economic and political stories for the Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, Vice News, the Nation and other media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

He told a BBC freelancer: "Even if the house is destroyed, even if it's just rubble, we'll go back, put up a tent, and return to our people."

From BBC • Oct. 10, 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

Related Words

• author
• biographer
• columnist
• correspondent
• critic
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• reporter
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