side hustle

noun

variants or less commonly side-hustle
plural side hustles also side-hustles
: work performed for income supplementary to one's primary job
These days, lots of people have a side hustle to help them earn extra income, develop new skills, become a business owner and quit their day job.Kitsap Sun
The best part of using a blog as a side hustle is the work you put in now will continue to pay off well into the future.Emory Wheel (Emory University)
Want to learn a new skill you've had your eyes on for quite some time? Or perhaps you want to take up a new hobby that you can eventually turn into a side hustle?Jan Cortes
We all know that millennials love a good side hustle—to fuel both their passions and their wallets.Alissa Carpenter

Examples of side hustle 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.
According to a recent survey, 41% of professionals worked on their side hustle during the hours allocated for their full-time job, Fortune reported. Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 In today’s economy, many people are turning to side hustles to earn extra income. Jan Diaz, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025 With uncertainty looming over the US economy, here are four people who are turning to wedding side hustles. Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025 That’s what defines these paths as careers and not just side hustles or gigs. Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for side hustle

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of side hustle was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Side hustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/side%20hustle. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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