adj · noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈfɹiːlɑːns/
General-American:/ˈfɹiˌlæns/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -iːlɑːns
CMU ARPABET:F R IY1 L AE2 N S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of or relating to a freelance; without a long-term employment contract.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
He was a freelance writer for several magazines.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A medieval mercenary.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: adventurer, bravo, condottiere, filibuster, freebooter, freelance, free companion, hired gun, hireling, hit man, merc, mercenary, private military contractor, sellsword, soldier of fortune
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To work as a freelance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To produce or sell services as a freelance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adjective
Meaning 6
working for yourself
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: free-lance, self-employed
Antonyms: salaried
7
noun
Meaning 7
a writer or artist who sells services to different employers without a long-term contract with any of them
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: freelancer, free-lance, free lance, independent, self-employed person
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: worker
8
verb
Meaning 8
work independently and on temporary contracts rather than for a long-term employer
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: work, do work
History
Etymology
From free + lance. Coined by Walter Scott (1771–1832) in Ivanhoe (1819; see quotation) to describe a medieval mercenary warrior or "free-lance" (indicating that the lance is not sworn to any lord's services). It changed to a figurative noun around the 1860s and was recognized as a verb in 1903 by authorities such as the Oxford English Dictionary. In modern times the term has morphed into an adjective, a verb, and an adverb, as well as the derivative noun freelancer.
Across languages
Translations
53 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
freelance
— of or relating to a freelance
Catalan:
autònom
— of or relating to a freelance
Estonian:
vabakutseline
— of or relating to a freelance
Finnish:
freelance-
— of or relating to a freelance
Finnish:
vapaa
— of or relating to a freelance
French:
à la pige
— of or relating to a freelance
French:
indépendant
— of or relating to a freelance
German:
freiberuflich
— of or relating to a freelance
Indonesian:
kerja lepas
— of or relating to a freelance
Indonesian:
tenaga lepas
— of or relating to a freelance
Irish:
neamhspleách
— of or relating to a freelance
Spanish:
freelance
— of or relating to a freelance
Spanish:
free-lance
— of or relating to a freelance
Spanish:
freelancer
— of or relating to a freelance
Spanish:
free-lancer
— of or relating to a freelance
Spanish:
free lancer
— of or relating to a freelance
Spanish:
autónomo
— of or relating to a freelance
Spanish:
independiente
— of or relating to a freelance
Spanish:
por libre
— of or relating to a freelance
Spanish:
por cuenta propia
— of or relating to a freelance
Swedish:
frilansande
— of or relating to a freelance
Thai:
อิสระ
(ìt-sà-rà)
— of or relating to a freelance
Turkish:
freelance-
— of or relating to a freelance
Estonian:
vabakutseline
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Finnish:
freelancer
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
French:
pigiste
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
French:
freelance
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
German:
freier Mitarbeiter
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Greek:
ελεύθερος επαγγελματίας
(eléftheros epangelmatías)
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Indonesian:
pekerja bebas
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Indonesian:
pekerja lepas
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Indonesian:
tenaga lepas
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Italian:
libero professionista
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Italian:
freelance
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Persian:
کارمزدی
(kârmozdi)
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Russian:
фрилансер
(frilanser)
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Spanish:
freelance
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Spanish:
free-lance
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Swedish:
frilans
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
Ukrainian:
фрілансер
(frilanser)
— someone who sells their services to clients without a long-term employment contract
French:
mercenaire
— medieval mercenary
Indonesian:
prajurit upahan
— medieval mercenary
Italian:
mercenario
— medieval mercenary
Finnish:
työskennellä freelancerina
— intransitive: to work as a freelance
Greek:
ελεύθερος επιχειρηματίας
(eléftheros epicheirimatías)
— intransitive: to work as a freelance
Greek:
αυτοαπασχολούμενος
(aftoapascholoúmenos)
— intransitive: to work as a freelance
Russian:
фрила́нсить
(frilánsitʹ)
— intransitive: to work as a freelance
Spanish:
trabajar por cuenta propia
— intransitive: to work as a freelance
Spanish:
currelar por libre
— intransitive: to work as a freelance
Spanish:
laburar autónomamente
— intransitive: to work as a freelance
Spanish:
chambear independientemente
— intransitive: to work as a freelance
Swedish:
frilansa
— intransitive: to work as a freelance
Finnish:
tehdä freelancerina
— transitive: to produce or sell services as a freelance