freelance
Working for different companies at different times rather than being permanently employed by one company; a person who does this.
Implies self-employment and often a project-based work structure, offering flexibility but also requiring self-discipline and business acumen.
Word relationships
- independent contractor: More formal and legalistic, often used in business contexts.
- self-employed: Broader term, encompassing any individual who works for themselves, not necessarily on a project basis.
- employed: Working for an employer, typically with a fixed salary and benefits.
- staff: Referring to a permanent employee of an organization.
Commonly confused with
- contractor: While 'freelance' implies a degree of creative freedom and project-based work, 'contractor' can refer to anyone working under a contract, often for a longer term or on larger projects, and might not always be creative.
Word family
- freelancer (n): A person who works freelance.
Collocations
- freelance writer
- freelance designer
- freelance work
- go freelance
- freelance contract
Example sentences
- "After years in a corporate office, she decided to go freelance, seeking more control over her projects and schedule." Describing a career choice.
- "The magazine often relies on freelance writers to cover specialized topics." Referring to a type of worker.
- "The term 'freelance' originally referred to a medieval mercenary, a knight who would offer his 'free lance' to any lord who would pay him." Historical context of the term.
Memory hook
Think of a 'free lance' knight, not tied to one king, offering his skills to anyone who pays. Now, imagine a 'free lance' writer, not tied to one company, offering their words to any publication. Free Lance Knight
When not to use
Do not use if referring to someone who is a permanent, salaried employee of a single company.
Fun facts
- The first recorded use of 'freelance' in a non-military context was in 1860, referring to a journalist.
Related words
Explore more words
flexibility, moonlighting, professionalism, flexible, contractor, peripatetic
Also appears in
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