noun
Uncommon
freelance
FREE-lahns
Freelance (noun) means a person who works independently for different clients rather than being employed long-term by one company. Example: “She left her office job to become a full-time freelance writer.”
noun
1
A person who works independently for different clients rather than being employed long-term by one company.
"She left her office job to become a full-time freelance writer."
"As a freelance, she chooses which projects to take on each month."
"The magazine hired a freelance to design its new cover."
adj
1
Working independently for various clients rather than under a single employer.
"He does freelance photography for several local magazines."
"My brother is a freelance designer who works from home."
"She does freelance translation work in the evenings and at weekends."
verb
1
To work independently for multiple clients rather than as a permanent employee.
"After being laid off, she started freelancing as a graphic designer."
"My brother freelances for several magazines and sets his own working hours."
"I freelanced for three different companies before I felt ready to open my own studio."
How to use freelance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWorking for yourself, taking on jobs from different clients instead of having one employer.
Common pairings
freelance work
go freelance
freelance basis
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Word forms
- Plural
- freelances
- Third person singular
- freelances
- Past tense
- freelanced
- Comparative
- more freelance
- Superlative
- most freelance
Fill the gap
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She left her office job to become a full-time _____ writer.
Etymology
Coined by Sir Walter Scott in his 1819 novel Ivanhoe, originally describing a medieval mercenary knight whose "lance" (weapon and services) was not sworn to any single lord. The word later shifted to its modern sense of independent, self-employed work.
Class of 1819
freelance joined the language around 1819.
See the full Class of 1819 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for freelance
See all rhymes for freelance →Frequently asked questions
What does “freelance” mean?
The word “freelance” means a person who works independently for different clients rather than being employed long-term by one company. In plain terms, working for yourself, taking on jobs from different clients instead of having one employer.
How do you pronounce “freelance”?
“Freelance” is pronounced FREE-lahns (/ˈfɹiˌlæns/ in IPA).
How do you use “freelance” in a sentence?
Here is “freelance” used in a sentence: “She left her office job to become a full-time freelance writer.”
What part of speech is “freelance”?
Depending on how it is used, “freelance” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “freelance” come from?
The word “freelance” dates back to around 1819.
Is “freelance” a common word?
“Freelance” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “freelance” have?
“Freelance” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who works independently for different clients rather than being employed long-term by one company.
What is the difference between freelance and self-employed?
Freelance specifically describes someone who works independently for multiple different clients rather than one employer, often on a project-by-project basis. Self-employed is the broader legal and tax term covering anyone who runs their own business, including freelancers, sole traders, and business owners with staff.
Is freelance a job title or a way of working?
Freelance describes a way of working rather than a specific job title; a person can freelance as a writer, designer, developer, or in almost any profession. The word functions as a noun for the person, an adjective describing the work arrangement, and a verb for the act of working this way.
What is the difference between freelance and contractor?
Freelance usually implies short-term, often creative or knowledge-based work for several clients at once, while contractor is a wider term that can include longer, single-client engagements in construction, IT, or other trades. In practice the terms overlap heavily and are often used interchangeably.
