freelance
No single employer
Freelance describes work done independently rather than as an employee—hired for specific projects without long-term commitment to one employer.
A freelance writer pitches articles to various publications; a freelance designer takes clients as they come.
The word works as adjective, noun, verb, and adverb: She works freelance, hired a freelance, freelancing for tech companies.
The term originated with medieval mercenary knights—lances for hire.
Enforceable written agreement
- clientOne who hires professionals
- projectPlanned, effortful task
- invoiceItemized billing statement
- deadlineTime limit for completion
portfolio · proposal · deliverable · brief · negotiation · scope · fee · retainer
Working independently, not hired
- contractorHired construction professional
- consultantProfessional advice provider
- solopreneurSelf-employed business owner
- independentFree from external control
self-directed · autonomous · remote · coworking · moonlighting · self-starter · unaffiliated
Paid killer for clients
- condottiereItalian mercenary leader
- legionnaireSoldier in a legion
- contractorHired construction professional
- combatArmed hostile engagement
warfare · commission · loyalty · sellsword · ronin
Creator of texts
- designerOne who plans appearances
- illustratorVisual artist for media
- photographerCamera-wielding image maker
- videographerOne who records footage
animator · copywriter · editor · content-creator · musician · filmmaker · artistry · portfolio
One who gathers news
- correspondentJournalist covering distant events
- contributorOne who provides something
- stringerFreelance reporter or beam
- columnistRecurring newspaper feature writer
blogger · fact-checking · pitch · byline · editorial · investigative · op-ed · publication
contract
Enforceable written agreement
deadline · portfolio · proposal · deliverable · brief · negotiation · scope · fee · retainer · pitch
self-employed
Working independently, not hired
- contractorHired construction professional
- consultantProfessional advice provider
- solopreneurSelf-employed business owner
independent · self-directed · autonomous · remote · coworking · moonlighting · self-starter · unaffiliated
gun-for-hire
Paid killer for clients
- condottiereItalian mercenary leader
- legionnaireSoldier in a legion
- contractorHired construction professional
writer
Creator of texts
- designerOne who plans appearances
- illustratorVisual artist for media
- photographerCamera-wielding image maker
videographer · animator · copywriter · editor · content-creator · musician · filmmaker · artistry · portfolio · commission
reporter
One who gathers news
- correspondentJournalist covering distant events
- contributorOne who provides something
- stringerFreelance reporter or beam
columnist · blogger · fact-checking · pitch · byline · editorial · investigative · op-ed · publication · syndication
- employmentjob, jobs, career, careers, interview
- workplacehours, cubicle, desk job, holiday party, desk
- careersdoctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, nurse
- job listingsjob postings, job openings, job listings, job vacancies, vacancies
- self-employedsolopreneur, independent contractors, sole proprietor, contractors, sole trader
- Side Hustlessmall business, self-employment, consulting, dropshipping, affiliate marketing
freelancesalaried
Paid fixed regular amount
unpaid · waged · benefited · hourly · on retainer
freelancecaptive
One held by force
employee · employed · subordinate · company man · managed
- freelance incomeEarnings from self-directed work
- freelance workSelf-directed paid projects
- freelance writingSelf-employed content creation
- freelance writerSelf-employed author for hire
- freelance journalistSelf-employed media contributor
- freelance journalismSelf-directed news work for hire
freelancer, freelancing, freelances, freelanced, freelancers, freelance work