free·lance
ˈfrē-ˌlan(t)s 
1
a
: of, relating to, or being a freelancer : independent
a freelance writer/photographer
freelance careers
working on a freelance basis
b
: done by a freelancer
freelance writing/photography
2
: not sponsored by or affiliated with an organization or authority
a freelance army
The Seoul government reacted sternly to [Sun Myung] Moon's freelance diplomacy, accusing him of "causing a split in national opinion."—
Paul Blustein
Paul Blustein
freelance
adverb
freelanced; freelancing; freelances
: to act or work as a freelancer
She freelances for a local newspaper.
… after graduating from the Philadelphia College of Art, he [John Mecray] freelanced as an illustrator and taught drawing classes at his alma mater.—Nautical World
Nautical World
: to produce as a freelancer
For a while, as he looked about for another book subject, Mr. [Tracy] Kidder freelanced articles for the Atlantic Monthly magazine.—Edwin McDowell
Edwin McDowell
plural freelances
1
: a person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer : freelancer
… the 42-year-old writer, who is now working on a book about Evelyn Waugh and his circle, described himself as a full-time freelance.—Herbert Mitgang
Herbert Mitgang2
usually free lance plural free lances
a
: a mercenary soldier especially of the Middle Ages : condottiere
b
: a person who acts independently without being affiliated with or authorized by an organization (such as a political party)
ran for office as a political free lance
"Have you been making your addresses as a free lance or under the auspices of the Speakers' Bureau … ?" she was asked.—Edwin L. James
Edwin L. James
Examples of freelance in a Sentence
Adjective
I wrote a freelance article for a nature magazine.
Recent Examples on the WebAlexandra Hurtado, Peoplemag, 4 May 2023
Hale worked as a freelance graphic designer and a part-time grocery shopper, a LinkedIn profile says.
—Nouran Salahieh, CNN, 29 Mar. 2023
And for small businesses looking to trim costs, the free tool can automate swaths of their operations, providing a cheaper alternative to freelance workers.
—Olivia Peluso, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
As far-fetched as the show could be (how did a freelance advice columnist afford racks of Jimmy Choo shoes?
—Vicki Shabo, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Aug. 2023
This set off two separate trends — of more freelance workers having to cobble together jobs without company benefits and employee privileges, and of spectacular growth for corporate America.
—Hamza Shaban, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2023
Before serving as an editorial assistant at PEOPLE, Sarah Sarah was a freelance reporter and editorial intern at InStyle magazine from 2013 and 2014.
—Sarah Kinonen, Peoplemag, 20 July 2023
Moving around in remote areas of the Amazon, whether by plane or riverboat, can be prohibitively expensive for freelance reporters.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 June 2023
Patrick is a freelance critic who tweets @TheBookMaven.
—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2023
Nathan Baird, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2023
Selby intends to freelance to supplement that income but has around $55,000 worth of student loans to think about.
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2023
After 10 years working in the Harry Potter film world and then freelancing on other large-scale projects, Gower decided to start his own company, BGFX, with his wife, Sarah, also a prosthetics designer.
—Hilton Dresden, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2023
That will be worth watching, as Jackson and Andrews often freelanced in years past.
—Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 31 July 2023
In addition to freelancing for Parents, Asmundsson has created content for a variety of other brands including Yahoo! and Real Simple.
—Laura Asmundsson, Parents, 30 June 2023
Some are playing on Broadway, or for the New York City Ballet, or are freelancing for regional orchestras.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2023
Secondary jobs are mostly part-time work, followed by freelancing.
—Clarisa Diaz, Quartz, 21 June 2023
Anne O’Hare McCormick — the first woman on the New York Times editorial board and to receive a Pulitzer, in 1937 — had to freelance for the Times for 14 years before she was hired full time.
—Janet Hook, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023
Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2023
Samantha Stutsman is a freelance writer and surveillance editor at PEOPLE.
—Samantha Stutsman, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Courtney Biggs is a freelance journalist in New York City covering disparities in women’s health care.
—Courtney Biggs, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2023
Shop Greenworks 80-Volt Cordless Leaf Blower Brandon Russell Brandon Russell is a freelance writer covering gear and technology.
—Brandon Russell, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2023
Shop Sun Joe 48-Volt Electric Lawn Mower Brandon Russell
Brandon Russell is a freelance writer covering gear and technology.
—Brandon Russell, Popular Mechanics, 5 Sep. 2023
Tim Zorn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
—Tim Zorn, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2023
Jessica Hartshorn Contributing Writer Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products.
—Jessica Hartshorn, Good Housekeeping, 31 Aug. 2023
Brittany Anas Contributing Writer Brittany Anas is a former newspaper reporter (The Denver Post, Boulder Daily Camera) turned freelance writer.
—Ann Lien, House Beautiful, 30 Aug. 2023
See More
Adjective
At the time, the couple lived in Berkeley, California, where Fernanda worked as a performer and a freelance graphic designer.
—Alexandra Hurtado, Peoplemag, 4 May 2023
Hale worked as a freelance graphic designer and a part-time grocery shopper, a LinkedIn profile says.
—Nouran Salahieh, CNN, 29 Mar. 2023
And for small businesses looking to trim costs, the free tool can automate swaths of their operations, providing a cheaper alternative to freelance workers.
—Olivia Peluso, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
As far-fetched as the show could be (how did a freelance advice columnist afford racks of Jimmy Choo shoes?
—Vicki Shabo, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Aug. 2023
This set off two separate trends — of more freelance workers having to cobble together jobs without company benefits and employee privileges, and of spectacular growth for corporate America.
—Hamza Shaban, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2023
Before serving as an editorial assistant at PEOPLE, Sarah Sarah was a freelance reporter and editorial intern at InStyle magazine from 2013 and 2014.
—Sarah Kinonen, Peoplemag, 20 July 2023
Moving around in remote areas of the Amazon, whether by plane or riverboat, can be prohibitively expensive for freelance reporters.
—Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 June 2023
Patrick is a freelance critic who tweets @TheBookMaven.
—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2023
Verb
Attempting to put the game away in the fourth quarter, McCord showed some freelancing ability.
—Nathan Baird, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2023
Selby intends to freelance to supplement that income but has around $55,000 worth of student loans to think about.
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2023
After 10 years working in the Harry Potter film world and then freelancing on other large-scale projects, Gower decided to start his own company, BGFX, with his wife, Sarah, also a prosthetics designer.
—Hilton Dresden, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2023
That will be worth watching, as Jackson and Andrews often freelanced in years past.
—Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 31 July 2023
In addition to freelancing for Parents, Asmundsson has created content for a variety of other brands including Yahoo! and Real Simple.
—Laura Asmundsson, Parents, 30 June 2023
Some are playing on Broadway, or for the New York City Ballet, or are freelancing for regional orchestras.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2023
Secondary jobs are mostly part-time work, followed by freelancing.
—Clarisa Diaz, Quartz, 21 June 2023
Anne O’Hare McCormick — the first woman on the New York Times editorial board and to receive a Pulitzer, in 1937 — had to freelance for the Times for 14 years before she was hired full time.
—Janet Hook, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023
Noun
Stella Kim Stella Kim is an NBC News freelance producer based in Seoul.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2023
Samantha Stutsman is a freelance writer and surveillance editor at PEOPLE.
—Samantha Stutsman, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Courtney Biggs is a freelance journalist in New York City covering disparities in women’s health care.
—Courtney Biggs, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2023
Shop Greenworks 80-Volt Cordless Leaf Blower Brandon Russell Brandon Russell is a freelance writer covering gear and technology.
—Brandon Russell, Popular Mechanics, 8 Sep. 2023
Shop Sun Joe 48-Volt Electric Lawn Mower Brandon Russell
Brandon Russell is a freelance writer covering gear and technology.
—Brandon Russell, Popular Mechanics, 5 Sep. 2023
Tim Zorn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
—Tim Zorn, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2023
Jessica Hartshorn Contributing Writer Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products.
—Jessica Hartshorn, Good Housekeeping, 31 Aug. 2023
Brittany Anas Contributing Writer Brittany Anas is a former newspaper reporter (The Denver Post, Boulder Daily Camera) turned freelance writer.
—Ann Lien, House Beautiful, 30 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'freelance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1902, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Noun
1819, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Dictionary Entries Near freelance
Cite this Entry
“Freelance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freelance. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
freelance
nounˈfrē-ˌlan(t)s
1
usually free lance
: a knight whose services could be bought by any ruler or state
2
: a person who pursues a profession without being committed to work for one employer for a long time
a freelance writer
freelance
adjective
ˈfrē-ˌlan(t)s
freelance
verb
freelancer
noun
-ˌlan(t)-sər
More from Merriam-Webster on freelance
Nglish: Translation of freelance for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of freelance for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share