self-employed

adjective

self-em·​ployed ˌself-im-ˈplȯid How to pronounce self-employed (audio)
: 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.
Currently, Allen is self-employed as an inventor, misting systems specialist and livestock farmer. Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025 To be eligible for the Ascend West Virginia program, applicants must work remotely, have the ability to work remotely in a business based outside of West Virginia or be self-employed outside of the state. Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 22 June 2025 Consider what a typical day looks like for someone self-employed: Scheduling midday walks, doctor’s appointments, or family care without stigma or corporate red tape. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self-employed than non-veterans. Sarah Sekula, USA Today, 27 May 2025 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 6 Jul. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on self-employed

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