side hustle

American

[sahyd huhs-uhl] / ˈsaɪd ˌhʌs əl /

noun

Slang.

a job or occupation that brings in extra money beyond one’s regular job and main source of income.

My book launch was the catalyst to finally take my side hustle seriously by turning it into a full-time gig.

Etymology

Origin of side hustle

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

John Mejia was already struggling to make money as a part-time Lyft driver when soaring gas prices made his side hustle even harder.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

By then, Domingo was ready to turn to his side hustle of taking headshots for other actors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Apocalypse BBQ – What began as a side hustle at the start of the pandemic, Apocalypse BBQ brings Caribbean and South American flavors to the world of barbecue.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2026

Abeer Laiq, who started selling Indian jewellery at her stall as a "side hustle", said she loved the "energy" found at car boot sales.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

“So, during this election season, we’re rebranding. I’ll be War Lord Tano—God of the Tano River, with a side hustle as the Lord of War.”

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023