self-employment

noun

self-em·​ploy·​ment ˌself-im-ˈplȯi-mənt How to pronounce self-employment (audio)
: the state of being self-employed

Examples of self-employment 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.
But Engledow has found that self-employment has its own challenges. — Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 Once the trust fund is exhausted, the system will continue to receive payroll and self-employment taxes each year. — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 That range matters because a skills-first economy may reward people who want a direct route into work, promotion, or self-employment rather than a long wait for a distant payoff. — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 21 May 2026 Digital labour platforms tend to use self-employment contracts and piecework systems, which result in insecurity, exploitation, and wage theft. — Literary Hub, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-employment

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-employment was in 1834

Rhymes for self-employment

See All Rhymes for self-employment

Browse Nearby Words

self-employed
self-employment
self-enclosed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-employment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-employment. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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