ENGLISH
REFERENCE

freelance

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈfɹiˌɫæns// UK //fɹˈiːlɑːns// free·lance Archaic

n. working for yourself and selling your services to different companies rather than being employed by just one. You are your own boss and choose which projects to take.

n. working on a contract basis for multiple clients rather than being permanently employed by a single organisation. Often used to describe professional services in creative, technical, or journalistic fields.


SIMPLE

She works as a freelance graphic designer for several local businesses.

CONTEXTUAL

After years at a large agency, he decided to go freelance to have more control over his schedule.

COMPLEX

The rise of digital platforms has enabled a growing number of professionals to pursue freelance careers, though this shift often comes at the expense of traditional employment benefits and job security.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From free + lance. Coined by Walter Scott (1771–1832) in Ivanhoe (1819; see quotation) to describe a medieval mercenary warrior or "free-lance" (indicating that the lance is not sworn to any lord's services). It changed to a figurative noun around the 1860s and was recognized as a verb in 1903 by authorities such as the Oxford English Dictionary. In modern times the term has morphed into an adjective, a verb, and an adverb, as well as the derivative noun freelancer.

Usage

Can be used as an adjective before a noun or as an adverb after a verb like 'work' or 'go'.

Pitfall

I am a freelance.I am a freelancer.Freelance is usually an adjective or adverb; use 'freelancer' when you need a noun to describe the person.

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