Definition

Noun: A person who works at a second job, typically during evening or night hours, in addition to their primary employment.

Usage

The term "moonlighter" specifically describes someone who takes on extra work, often secretly or informally, to earn additional income. It implies the second job is done outside of regular daytime working hours.

Examples

• Noun:
  • To make ends meet, the teacher became a moonlighter, working as a bartender three nights a week.
  • The company's policy prohibits employees from being moonlighters without prior approval.

Advanced Usage

• The concept often carries a connotation of the work being done discreetly or without the full knowledge of the primary employer.
• It can refer to someone engaging in freelance or gig economy work outside their main career.

Variants and Related Words

• Moonlight (verb): To work a second job, especially at night.
  • She had to moonlight as a driver to pay off her student loans.

Synonyms

• Secondary jobholder
• Part-time worker (in the context of having a second job)
• Side hustler (modern, informal)

Notes

• The term originates from the idea of working by the light of the moon, after the sun (and the primary job) has set.
• Being a moonlighter is common in professions where primary income is insufficient or irregular.

Noun

1. a person who holds a second job (usually after hours)