self-employed

adjective

self-em·​ployed ˌself-im-ˈplȯid How to pronounce self-employed (audio)
: earning income directly from one's own business, trade, or profession rather than as a specified salary or wages from an employer
self-employed noun

Examples of self-employed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Strange is self-employed as an independent consultant. Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024 Plus, disaster jobless benefits are available to many types of workers who don’t qualify for state unemployment insurance, such as gig workers, farmers and the self-employed. Tami Luhby, CNN, 21 Oct. 2024 Rodriguez earned his commercial driver's license and now is self-employed, working as a trucker in Southgate. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 9 Sep. 2024 In India, most craftspeople of this ilk continue to be self-employed, which limits their efficiency and, therefore, their output. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for self-employed 

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-employed was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near self-employed

Cite this Entry

“Self-employed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-employed. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

self-employed

adjective
self-em·​ployed
ˌsel-fim-ˈplȯid
: earning income from one's own business or profession rather than salary or wages from an employer

More from Merriam-Webster on self-employed

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