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

And Hill sent board members a 14-page memorandum with more than 200 pages of exhibits, alleging the board had tried to extort her and questioning ties between board members and CMS contractors. — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026

Restaurants and retailers may receive most payments at checkout, while contractors, consultants, startups, and professional-service firms may rely more heavily on invoices. — Karen Koehler, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026

The Colombian military veterans had been hired as security contractors by the Doral-area firm Counter Terrorist Unit and its affiliate, Counter Terrorist Unit Federal Academy, collectively known as CTU. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Interestingly, its performance metrics read like a wishlist for defense contractors. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 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