gig economy

American  

[gig i-kon-uh-mee] / ˈgɪg ɪˈkɒn ə mi /

noun

Slang.

1. an economic sector consisting of part-time, temporary, and freelance jobs.

   rapid growth of the online gig economy.

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Etymology

Origin of gig economy

First recorded in 2005–10; gig ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “a job of uncertain duration”) + economy ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gig economy

I laughed when a protégé called me a digital nomad in the gig economy, like him.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

The offer of credit, with few conditions attached, has also sucked in workers from the gig economy, with the platforms for which they work sometimes acting as their lenders.

From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026

Tepid domestic demand has squeezed corporate profits, reduced head counts at major firms and pushed more workers into the gig economy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

Is the gig economy a means or an end to ambition?

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026

He is one of millions working in India's rapidly expanding gig economy, which is expected to employ 23.5 million people by 2030.

From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2026