contractor

contractor — noun

1. an individual or organisation formally agreeing to deliver a specific job or pro

1.nounB1
Definition

an individual or organisation formally agreeing to deliver a specific job or project, providing the necessary workforce, supplies, or tools

Example

The contractor finished painting the office building two weeks ahead of schedule.

collocation: finish + [project] ahead of schedule

Darius's company hired a contractor to design a new website for their online store.

collocation: hire a contractor to [task]

Common collocations
  • general contractor
  • prime contractor
  • building contractor
  • independent contractor
Synonyms
  • service provider

    more general term; any business that supplies services, not necessarily under a formal contract

  • builder

    narrower — only for construction or renovation work, not IT, cleaning, or consulting

Usage Note

Frequently used with verbs like hire, bring in, or work with to describe engaging a contractor's services. The word can refer to either an individual or an entire company.

Common Mistakes

The contractor built the bridge with their own hands.
The contractor oversaw the bridge construction with a team of workers.
a contractor is typically a company or manager, not a single labourer doing hands-on work.

2. a person who carries out work for an organisation on a fixed-term or project bas

2.nounB2
Definition

a person who carries out work for an organisation on a fixed-term or project basis, without the status, rights, or benefits of a permanent employee

Example

Tamar worked as an IT contractor at the bank for eight months.

collocation: work as a contractor

The company hires contractors for short-term projects instead of permanent staff.

contrast: contractor vs. permanent employee

Common collocations
  • freelance contractor
  • IT contractor
  • contractor status
  • independent contractor
Synonyms
  • freelancer

    similar meaning but emphasises working independently for multiple clients rather than being attached to one organisation

  • consultant

    implies higher-level expertise and advisory work; often paid at a higher rate

Antonyms
  • employee

    someone who works for an employer on an ongoing basis with legal protections and benefits

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 focuses on employment status (non-employee), not on the task or project being delivered. This meaning is common in human resources, tax, and labour law contexts.

Common Mistakes

I work as a contractor building houses.
I work as a contractor for a software company, writing code on a six-month contract.
if the focus is on what you build, use sense 1; sense 2 is about your employment relationship.

Word family

  • contract
    nounB1
  • contract
    verbB1
  • contractual
    adjectiveB2
  • subcontractor
    nounC1
  • subcontract
    verbC1
  • subcontract
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A contractor (sense 1) is a person or company that enters into a formal agreement to deliver a specific job or service, taking full responsibility for the outcome. A freelancer is also self-employed and project-based, but the term emphasises independence and a client-by-client working style — freelancers typically work alone in creative or professional fields (writing, design, programming). A subcontractor is hired by the main contractor rather than the client, handling a portion of the larger project (e.g. an electrical subcontractor on a building site). A supplier provides materials or products — raw goods or manufactured items — but does not perform the service or build anything. In practice: if you hire someone to renovate your kitchen, the general contractor oversees everything; that contractor may bring in a tiling subcontractor, buy cabinets from a supplier, and the designer working on the layout might be a freelancer.

contractor ↗freelancersubcontractorsupplier ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • contractor agreement
  • contractor work
  • contractor licence
  • contractor rate

Phrases

  • hire a contractor
  • work as a contractor
  • independent contractor
  • contractor and supplier

Prepositions

  • contractor for [project/company]
  • contractor with [organisation]

Etymology

LatinAnglo-FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Latin 'contractus' (past participle of 'contrahere' — to draw together, enter into an agreement), via Anglo-French and Middle English 'contract'. The suffix '-or' marks the agent: someone who performs the action. The commercial use of 'contractor' for a person or firm undertaking contracted work has been recorded since the early 16th century.