Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Earning one's livelihood directly from one's own trade or business rather than as an employee of another.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Working for oneself, rather than for an employer.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective working for yourself

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Already the size of what I call the self-employed "free agent" work force has exploded, encompassing about 44 percent of the work force or nearly 80 million people.

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Carl Camden 2012

  • First, those classified as self-employed are less tax compliant than W-2 employees and second the employers fail to pay unemployment and Social Security and Medicare due on employee salaries.

    Forbes.com: News Robert McKenzie 2011

  • I’ve been a freelance editor long enough to know that, for institutions like banks and future employers, self-employed translates to “nearly jobless but scraping by.”

    HOUSE RULES JODI PICOULT 2010

  • I am self-employed and my modest business is internet based and perfect for an expat life.

    Introductin & Living in Mexico Prior to Retirment 2009

  • The IMSS system in Mazatlan is so very over-taxed that my Mexican husband (who is self-employed) and I have decided not to be part of the problem.

    IMSS subscribers 2009

  • While he owned up to six vehicles at a time -- the church paying most of his and his kid's insurance, cell phones and vacations -- his staff was required to file income tax as "self-employed" on minimum wage salaries, while his son and daughter made just a fraction less than he paid himself.

    Jack Watts: Amanda's Story Of Religious Abuse As A Teen Jack Watts 2011

  • While he owned up to six vehicles at a time -- the church paying most of his and his kid's insurance, cell phones and vacations -- his staff was required to file income tax as "self-employed" on minimum wage salaries, while his son and daughter made just a fraction less than he paid himself.

    Jack Watts: Amanda's Story Of Religious Abuse As A Teen Jack Watts 2011

  • Pensions were the key topic on the agenda at a recent meeting of federal and provincial finance ministers, where they agreed in principle to create pooled registered pension plans that small-business employees and the self-employed can participate in.

    Study Points to Retirement Challenges in Canada Nirmala Menon 2011

  • The IMSS system in Mazatlan is so very over-taxed that my Mexican husband (who is self-employed) and I have decided not to be part of the problem.

    IMSS subscribers 2009

  • Two months ago, many of the roughly 70 Colorado groups affiliated with the tea party celebrated when political rookie Dan Maes, a self-employed businessman, won the Republican nomination for governor.

    State Tea-Party Groups Splinter as Vote Nears Stephanie Simon 2010

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