You’ll often hear the terms “freelance” and “freelancer.” While they sound almost the same, they’re not used in exactly the same way. Many people use them interchangeably, but there’s a subtle difference in meaning and usage that’s worth understanding especially if you’re writing professionally or working in the gig economy.
What Does “Freelance” Mean?
Freelance is usually used as an adjective or a verb. It describes the type of work being done or the action of working independently, rather than being employed full-time by a company.
In simple terms, “freelance” describes the work or job style.
Examples:
- “I do freelance writing.”
- “She works as a freelance designer.”
- “He decided to freelance instead of taking a corporate job.”
Here, “freelance” refers to the kind of work — it’s flexible, self-employed, and often done for multiple clients.
What Does “Freelancer” Mean?
A freelancer is a person who performs freelance work. It’s a noun that describes someone who is self-employed and offers their services to clients without being tied to one employer.
A freelancer is the individual doing freelance work.
Examples:
- “She’s a talented freelancer in web development.”
- “Many freelancers find work on Fiverr and Upwork.”
- “As a freelancer, I set my own schedule.”
The Key Difference
| Term | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance | Adjective / Verb | Describes the type of work or action of working independently | “I do freelance photography.” |
| Freelancer | Noun | Refers to the person doing freelance work | “I am a freelancer.” |
So, freelance is the kind of work, and freelancer is the person who does it.
How They’re Used in the Workplace
- Companies often hire freelancers to complete freelance projects.
- A freelancer might take on several freelance jobs at the same time.
- The freelance economy refers to the growing market of freelancers working independently across the world.
Understanding the difference helps you use both terms correctly in business, marketing, or academic writing.
The words freelance and freelancer are closely related, but they serve different grammatical purposes.
- Freelance = the type of work or working style.
- Freelancer = the person doing that work.
“I’m a freelancer, and I do freelance work.”
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