contractor

noun

con·​trac·​tor

sense 1 is usually

ˈkän-ˌtrak-tər 

sense 2 is usually

kən-ˈtrak- 

1

: one that contracts or is party to a contract: such as

a

: one that contracts to perform work or provide supplies

b

: one that contracts to erect buildings

2

: something (such as a muscle) that contracts or shortens

Examples of contractor in a Sentence

They hired a contractor to remodel the kitchen.

Recent Examples on the Web

The excavation created a mountain of clay soil — an inconvenience for most people, but a building block for a contractor who understood the site’s potential. —David Caraccio may 23, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2026

More than two years later, Maryland is still in the squabbling-with-contractors phase of government projects. —Editorial Board, Washington Post, 23 May 2026

As evidence, the Paxton lawsuit cited a Bloomberg report from April 2026, in which a special agent with the Office of Export Enforcement allegedly examined claims that Meta employees and contractors had the capability to view WhatsApp message content. —Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 23 May 2026

Mando is still a New Republic contractor, and the Imperials are still a threat, though down a few baddies. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin contractor "party to a contract," from Latin contrac-, variant stem of contrahere "to draw together, reduce in size, bring together, enter into (an agreement, formal relationship) + -tor, agent suffix — more at contract entry 2

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing contractor

• independent contractor

Rhymes for contractor

• attractor
• cofactor
• compactor
• contactor
• distractor
• extractor
• impactor
• protractor
• reactor
• redactor
• refractor
• retractor

Kids Definition

contractor

noun

con·​trac·​tor ˈkän-ˌtrak-tər  kən-ˈtrak- 

: one that enters into a contract

especially : a person who contracts to perform work or provide supplies at a certain price or within a certain time

building contractor

Medical Definition

contractor

noun

con·​trac·​tor ˈkän-ˌtrak-tər  kən-ˈ 

: something (as a muscle) that contracts or shortens

Legal Definition

contractor

noun

con·​trac·​tor ˈkän-ˌtrak-tər, kən-ˈtrak- 

: one that contracts: as

a

: one that contracts to perform work or provide supplies

b

: one that contracts to erect buildings