# freelance

/ˈfɹiˌɫæns/ (US) · /fɹˈiːlɑːns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/freelance
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. independent worker

noun · CEFR B2

someone who works for different companies at different times rather than being employed by one company.

For teachers: a person who acts independently rather than being under contract to a single employer; often used in creative or technical industries.

- After ten years at the newspaper, she decided to become a freelance and work from home.
- The agency relies heavily on a network of experienced freelances to handle overflow work during the peak marketing season.

Usage: While 'freelancer' is now more common as a noun, 'freelance' remains standard in this sense.

### 2. self-employed

adjective · CEFR B2

doing work for several different companies rather than for just one.

For teachers: relating to or denoting a person who works for different companies rather than being permanently employed by one.

- He earns a good living doing freelance graphic design for various tech startups.
- The company hired a freelance consultant to oversee the transition to the new software system.

### 3. to work independently

verb · CEFR B2

to work for yourself and sell your services to different clients.

For teachers: to work as a freelance; can be used without an object or with a specific service as the object.

- She has been freelancing for several years and enjoys the flexible schedule.
- He spent the summer freelancing his coding skills to local businesses while searching for a full-time position.

### 4. medieval mercenary

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a soldier in the past who was not loyal to one king and would fight for anyone who paid them.

For teachers: a medieval mercenary soldier whose loyalties were not fixed to a specific lord or nation.

- The old stories tell of a brave freelance who fought in many foreign wars.
- The term originally described a medieval freelance whose lance was not sworn to any particular lord's service.

Teaching tip: This is the historical origin of the modern word; it is rarely used today except in historical fiction or etymological discussions.

## Examples

- She works as a freelance graphic designer for several local businesses.
- After years at a large agency, he decided to go freelance to have more control over his schedule.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.