Definition

1. Noun:

   • A self-employed professional: A person, typically a writer, artist, or consultant, who works independently and sells their services to various clients or employers, usually without a long-term commitment to any single one.
   • A mercenary (historical): In medieval history, a knight or soldier who offered their services for pay to any lord or army.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To work as a self-employed professional: To engage in work by offering one's services independently to various clients, rather than being employed by a single company.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She works as a free lance, writing articles for several different magazines.
  • In the 14th century, many free lances roamed Europe, hiring themselves out to the highest bidder.

• Verb:

  • After leaving the firm, he decided to free lance as a graphic designer.

Advanced Usage

• "to go free lance": to begin working as an independent contractor.
  • After a decade in corporate jobs, she decided to go free lance and be her own boss.

Variants and Related Words

• Freelance (adj, adv, n, v): The more common modern spelling of "free lance".
  • He is a freelance journalist. (adjective)
  • She works freelance. (adverb)
• Freelancer (n): A person who works as a freelance.
  • The company hired a freelancer to design their website.

Synonyms

• Independent contractor: A person hired for a specific job or service, not as a permanent employee.
• Self-employed: Earning income directly from one's own business or trade rather than as salary from an employer.
• Consultant: An expert who provides professional advice or services.

Related Phrases

• Freelance work: Work done on a self-employed, project-by-project basis.
  • She finds freelance work through online platforms.
• Freelance basis: Describes the manner of working independently.
  • He was hired on a freelance basis for the project.

Noun

1. a writer or artist who sells services to different employers without a long-term contract with any of them