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.
The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%, which is a combination of a 12.4% Social Security tax and a 2.9% Medicare tax on net earnings. Robert W. Wood, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025 Understanding Society, the largest longitudinal household panel study of its kind, focused on the U.K. and found that, three years after childbirth, 90% of new fathers were in full-time work or self-employment compared to 27.8% of new mothers. Eva Epker, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 For gig workers — especially women — the solar tricycle offers a safe, clean and financially viable means of self-employment. Ronik Sharma, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2025 How many years of self-employment is required to get approved for a mortgage? Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 1 May 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Self-employment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-employment. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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