self-employed

adjective

self-em·​ployed ˌself-im-ˈplȯid How to pronounce self-employed (audio)
Synonyms of self-employednext
: earning income directly from one's own business, trade, or profession rather than as a specified salary or wages from an employer
self-employed noun

Examples of self-employed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Only some who work exclusively in the gig or cash economy, or who are entirely self-employed, might not be listed. Eli Hager, ProPublica, 11 Mar. 2026 The Republicans running for the District 3 commission seat are Paul Burton, a retiree, and Rebecca King, who is self-employed. Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 7 Mar. 2026 Nathaniel Welch is self-employed and does not have a campaign website detailing his positions on state issues. Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026 The couple, who are self-employed, had been enrolled in an ACA marketplace plan since 2023. Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-employed

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-employed was in 1916

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Cite this Entry

“Self-employed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-employed. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

self-employed

adjective
self-em·​ployed
ˌsel-fim-ˈplȯid
: earning income from one's own business or profession rather than salary or wages from an employer

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