gig economy

noun

: economic activity that involves the use of temporary or freelance workers to perform jobs typically in the service sector

One reason the gig economy has taken off: People tend to change jobs more frequently and many enjoy the flexibility of choosing when and where they work.

—Marcia Pledger

While they are still able to work, boomers will be a big part of a subset of the sharing economy that is sometimes called the "gig economy." Gigs are what they sound like: assignments, contracts or part-time jobs.

—Linda Nazareth

Examples of gig economy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Today’s debates about remote work, automation, and the gig economy would benefit from this same perspective on the meaning of work. —Scott Hutcheson, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Not long ago, such an idea would have seemed dystopian; now, that’s just the everyday gig economy whittled down to its most cruelly efficient form. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025

Asking if someone is employed, for example, might elicit a range of answers that include everything from steady work to being part of the gig economy to volunteering. —Gina Chua, semafor.com, 22 Aug. 2025

But the job market has changed dramatically since the ACA became law, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, with the rise of a gig economy. —Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

gig entry 1

First Known Use

2009, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gig economy

• deuteronomy
• aeronomy
• agronomy
• astronomy
• autonomy
• gastronomy
• metonymy
• taxonomy