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

In the release, prosecutors said Robinson asked for a bribe from an executive with a county contractor that was performing maintenance work on Metrorail who was also interested in securing a welding job that Robinson would be supervising. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025

Once the budget is approved, items are repaired by vetted contractors and vendors who meet ethical and environmental standards. —Angela Chan-Danisi, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

The company has six full-time employees and works with several part-time contractors and agencies. —Kamaron McNair Todiwala, CNBC, 12 May 2025

This week, the Los Angeles Times published a special report built around a soil-testing initiative that provided the first evidence that homes remediated by federal contractors still had levels of heavy metals above typical state cleanup goals. —Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025

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