self-employed

adjective

self-em·​ployed ˌself-im-ˈplȯid How to pronounce self-employed (audio)
: earning income directly from one's own business, trade, or profession rather than as a specified salary or wages from an employer
self-employed noun

Examples of self-employed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self-employed than non-veterans. Sarah Sekula, USA Today, 27 May 2025 The number of unemployed workers increased by 2,100 last month, while the total number of employed, which includes the self-employed, rose by 500, according to a survey of households. Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 17 May 2025 Become self-employed and earn the same salary within 12 months No one else is going to do this for you. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 For example, someone who has recently become self-employed. Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-employed

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-employed was in 1916

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-employed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-employed. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

self-employed

adjective
self-em·​ployed
ˌsel-fim-ˈplȯid
: earning income from one's own business or profession rather than salary or wages from an employer

More from Merriam-Webster on self-employed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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