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.
Roughly 15% are self-employed, from small business owners to street vendors—forming the entrepreneurial backbone of many neighborhoods. Jody Agius Vallejo, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025 Robinson is self-employed in the area of finance, according to his campaign website. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2025 Both Vincenty and her husband are self-employed. Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2025 Sure, not everyone can become self-employed or redesign their career. Big Think, 2 Oct. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Self-employed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-employed. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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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