contractor
n. countablen. a person or company that is hired to do a specific job for a set price. You usually hire them for a limited time to finish a project like building a house or writing software.
n. an individual or firm that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labour to perform a service or do a job. Often used to distinguish external workers from permanent staff.
The contractor promised to finish the kitchen renovation by Friday.
The government hired a private contractor to manage the security of the new airport terminal.
While the firm employs several hundred full-time engineers, it relies on independent contractors to provide specialized expertise during the peak phases of development.
Borrowed from Late Latin contractor, from Latin contract-, stem of contractus + -tor. First attested in the 16th century.
Often used with 'independent' or 'private' to specify the nature of the employment relationship.