# stringer

/ˈstɹɪŋɝ/ (US) · /stɹˈɪŋɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stringer
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a freelance reporter or photographer who is not a full-time employee. They work for a news organization on a part-time basis and get paid for each story they provide.

For teachers: a freelance journalist or photographer who contributes reports or images to a news organization on a part-time or occasional basis. Often used in the context of local correspondents covering specific geographic regions for national outlets.

## Examples

- The newspaper hired a local stringer to cover the small-town festival.
- During the conflict, major networks relied on a network of local stringers to provide footage from areas too dangerous for foreign staff.
- While the bureau chief manages the primary narrative, it is often the stringer on the ground whose intimate knowledge of local politics provides the necessary depth for a truly comprehensive report.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the journalism industry; can also refer to a cord used by fishers to hold caught fish.

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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.