freelance

or free-lance

[ free-lans, -lans ]

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: Compare full-time ( def 2 ).

   a freelance writer;

   freelance copyediting.

verb (used without object)

, free·lanced, free·lanc·ing.

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)

, free·lanced, free·lanc·ing.

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 ( def ).
2. a person who contends in a cause or in a succession of various causes, as they choose, without personal attachment or allegiance.

freelance

/ ˈfriːˌlɑːns /

noun

1. 1. Also calledfreelancer 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

verb

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

adverb

1. as a freelance

Word History and Origins

Origin of freelance¹

First recorded in 1810–20; free + lance ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of freelance¹

C19 (in sense 3): later applied to politicians, writers, etc

Example Sentences

She added she was tentatively looking for part-time or freelance work as a copywriter.

From BBC

The chorus and orchestra will perform in both London and Manchester, and the company will work with Manchester-based outfits like the Halle Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic, and local freelance musicians.

From BBC

The BBC understands while Ms Allen-Wyatt is not a direct employee of the club, she has been working for them on a freelance basis until very recently.

From BBC

After juggling freelance work and producing ceramics in the evenings and on weekends for 10 years, she decided to take a leap of faith and do ceramics full-time in 2016.

From Los Angeles Times

So she has some advice for journalists tempted by the burden of having bosses to “just go independent,” enticed, say, by the siren call of freelancing: “Just do a substack! It’s the future of journalism.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• self-employed