self-employment

noun

self-em·​ploy·​ment ˌself-im-ˈplȯi-mənt How to pronounce self-employment (audio)
: the state of being self-employed

Examples of self-employment 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.
Business owners, who may be tempted to file taxes as an S-corp to avoid paying self-employment taxes, will sacrifice earnings that count toward their retirement benefits, Valega said. Lorie Konish, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025 The audit notices are denying fuel credits and a bogus self-employment tax income that was claimed when the the taxpayers were not even self-employed, Wease said. Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025 Avedian also said gig workers have to pay self-employment tax, so that could eat into any benefit of the new tip deduction — again, if the workers qualify for it at all, depending on their income. Levi Sumagaysay, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025 This is not a side hustle, a flexible gig, or a dabble in self-employment. Matt Emma, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-employment

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-employment was in 1834

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Cite this Entry

“Self-employment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-employment. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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