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.
Because income reported on Schedule K-1 generally isn’t subject to self-employment tax, owners who work in the business generally must be paid a reasonable salary. Nancy Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 June 2026 Once the trust fund is exhausted, the system will continue to receive payroll and self-employment taxes each year. Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 To pay for that, the proposal, called the Social Security Expansion Act, calls for extending payroll taxes on wages, salaries and self-employment earnings for income over $250,000. Lorie Konish, CNBC, 15 June 2026 But Engledow has found that self-employment has its own challenges. Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 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 28 Jun. 2026.

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