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

Due to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, federal employees are guaranteed back pay during shutdowns, but for federal contractors who work with government employees, the situation is a little more complicated. —Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 22 Nov. 2025

Over two months, CNN interviewed at least a dozen former USAID officials, dependent contractors, or aid workers and examined extensive internal documentation of USAID’s work in Mozambique, to assess the full impact of the USAID shutdown on one of Africa’s most vulnerable states. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025

After heavy snowfall, the city will call in private contractors to plow more than 2,000 center-line miles of Priority Two and Priority Three routes. —Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 21 Nov. 2025

Funding for the study came from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, and the Texas Beef Council. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 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