contractor
KON-trak-tuh
Contractor (noun) means a person or company hired to carry out building or construction work. Example: “The contractor laid new tiles in the kitchen and bathroom.”
noun
1
A person or company hired to carry out building or construction work.
"The contractor laid new tiles in the kitchen and bathroom."
"They hired a contractor to build the new extension."
"The general contractor coordinated the plumbers, electricians, and painters."
2
Someone hired to do a specific job under a contract rather than as a permanent employee.
"He left his permanent job to become a contractor for software firms."
"As a contractor, she is paid per project and gets no paid holiday."
"She works as an independent contractor for several different clients."
How to use contractor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone hired under contract to do a job, often building work.
Common pairings
general contractor
independent contractor
hire a contractor
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Word forms
- Plural
- contractors
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The _____ laid new tiles in the kitchen and bathroom.
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin contractor, from Latin contractus plus the agent suffix -tor; first recorded in the 16th century.
Class of 1500
contractor joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Synonyms
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Rhymes for contractor
See all rhymes for contractor →Frequently asked questions
What does “contractor” mean?
The word “contractor” means a person or company hired to carry out building or construction work. In plain terms, someone hired under contract to do a job, often building work.
How do you pronounce “contractor”?
“Contractor” is pronounced KON-trak-tuh (/ˈkɒnˌtɹæk.tə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “contractor” in a sentence?
Here is “contractor” used in a sentence: “They hired a contractor to build the new extension.”
What part of speech is “contractor”?
“Contractor” is a noun.
Where does the word “contractor” come from?
The word “contractor” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Late Latin. Borrowed from Late Latin contractor, from Latin contractus plus the agent suffix -tor; first recorded in the 16th century.
Is “contractor” a common word?
“Contractor” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “contractor” have?
“Contractor” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person or company hired to carry out building or construction work.
What is the difference between a contractor and a subcontractor?
A contractor is hired directly by the client to carry out work, especially building work, and takes overall responsibility for the job. A subcontractor is hired by the contractor to handle a specialized part of it — plumbing or electrical work, for example — and answers to the contractor rather than the client.
What is the difference between a contractor and an employee?
An employee works on an ongoing basis for one employer, which directs how and when the work is done. A contractor is hired to complete a specific job under a contract, typically supplies their own tools, controls their own methods and schedule, and may work for several clients; the exact legal tests vary by country.
What is a general contractor?
A general contractor is the person or company that oversees an entire construction project: hiring subcontractors, scheduling the trades, sourcing materials, and taking responsibility for the finished result. Clients normally deal with the general contractor rather than with each individual trade.
What is the difference between a contractor and a builder?
Builder emphasizes the person or firm that physically constructs buildings, while contractor emphasizes the arrangement: someone hired under a contract to carry out work, which may span many trades or lie outside construction entirely. In everyday speech about building work, the two words often overlap.
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