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 Noel’s body may have been inside a shed that was removed from a spot where contractors built a concrete patio paid for by Rodriguez-Singh in early 2023, police said. James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2024 When the floating platform was ready to be craned into the water, there was a question of whether the bank of the river was strong enough to bear the weight—fifteen hundred tons in total—so the contractors rushed to reinforce the bank in a matter of weeks, using twenty-metre-long steel piles. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 At the end of the season, contractors almost always declare that a balance remains. Qadri Inzamam Saumya Khandelwal, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024 The trade groups for the homebuilders and general contractors have been working with schools, colleges and the federal Job Corps program to develop the next generation of American construction workers. Tami Luhby, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 In 2020, ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft sent notifications to users in California urging them to oppose Proposition 22, a ballot initiative allowing the companies to continue classifying their drivers as contractors, not employees. Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 Developer/contractor/architect/engineer: Gieseke Rosenthal Architecture + Design, Genesis Civil Design, Schaefer Engineering, Jose Garcia Interiors, Terrex Development and Construction. The Enquirer, 21 Mar. 2024 Many defense contractors see the war in Ukraine primarily as a way to line their own pockets. Bernie Sanders, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024 On Friday, an attorney for the Department of Corrections admitted the agency was having issues getting its health care contractor, NaphCare, to increase staffing. Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contractor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of contractor was in 1548

Dictionary Entries Near contractor

Cite this Entry

“Contractor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contractor. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!