self-employed

adjective

self-em·​ployed ˌself-im-ˈplȯid 

: 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

Independent workers make up 36% of the U.S. workforce, and just under 47% of the global workforce is self-employed. —Virginia Poly, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

For clients with 1099 income or those who are self-employed, consider setting up a Solo 401(k). —Jonathan I. Shenkman, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

The program is popular with people who are self-employed and those who don’t get insurance through their work, Roders Turner said. —Christopher O'Donnell, Sun Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024

If your income is irregular, such as being self-employed or having fluctuating hours, consider providing additional documentation, like contracts or statements from clients, to further demonstrate your financial stability. —True Tamplin, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

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