contractor

noun

con·​trac·​tor
sense 1 is usually
ˈkän-ˌtrak-tər How to pronounce contractor (audio)
sense 2 is usually
kən-ˈtrak- How to pronounce contractor (audio)
1
: one that contracts or is party to a contract: such as
a
: one that contracts to perform work or provide supplies
b
: one that contracts to erect buildings
2
: something (such as a muscle) that contracts or shortens

Examples of contractor in a Sentence

They hired a contractor to remodel the kitchen.
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.
In the span of a week, the phone spent time on my desk, in my kitchen, at dinner parties, and in meetings with a contractor. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 8 July 2026 Bloomberg also reported at the time that contractors were pouring a new floor every four days to meet a deadline to open. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 8 July 2026 Parker said the contractors who complete asbestos tests and removal have been doing so for decades, and department officials believe their employees are safe. — Miceala Morano, Arkansas Online, 8 July 2026 Well, not bad in terms of trying to showcase how much money Europe is spending on its own defense, with a raft of billion-dollar deals announced with some of the world's largest military contractors. — Steve Sedgwick,leonie Kidd, CNBC, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for contractor

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin contractor "party to a contract," from Latin contrac-, variant stem of contrahere "to draw together, reduce in size, bring together, enter into (an agreement, formal relationship) + -tor, agent suffix — more at contract entry 2

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of contractor was in 1548

Phrases Containing contractor

Rhymes for contractor

See All Rhymes for contractor

Browse Nearby Words

contract on
contractor
contract out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contractor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contractor. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

contractor

noun
con·​trac·​tor ˈkän-ˌtrak-tər How to pronounce contractor (audio) kən-ˈtrak- How to pronounce contractor (audio)
: one that enters into a contract
especially : a person who contracts to perform work or provide supplies at a certain price or within a certain time
building contractor

Medical Definition

contractor

noun
con·​trac·​tor ˈkän-ˌtrak-tər How to pronounce contractor (audio) kən-ˈ How to pronounce contractor (audio)
: something (as a muscle) that contracts or shortens

Legal Definition

contractor

noun
con·​trac·​tor ˈkän-ˌtrak-tər, kən-ˈtrak- How to pronounce contractor (audio)
: one that contracts: as
a
: one that contracts to perform work or provide supplies
b
: one that contracts to erect buildings

More from Merriam-Webster on contractor

Nglish: Translation of contractor for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about contractor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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