gig economy

noun

: economic activity that involves the use of temporary or freelance workers to perform jobs typically in the service sector
One reason the gig economy has taken off: People tend to change jobs more frequently and many enjoy the flexibility of choosing when and where they work.Marcia Pledger
While they are still able to work, boomers will be a big part of a subset of the sharing economy that is sometimes called the "gig economy." Gigs are what they sound like: assignments, contracts or part-time jobs.Linda Nazareth

Examples of gig economy 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.
By outsourcing proctoring and grading to underpaid educators, the College Board extracts value from public schools while privatizing profits—a dynamic that mirrors gig economy practices more than educational stewardship. Scott White, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025 And the gig economy isn’t walled off from the rest: Many Americans still have full-time, union-eligible jobs, but a lot of them dip into temporary or part-time work to make ends meet. Lora Kelley, The Atlantic, 21 May 2025 Five years ago, Robert Wallach (Bobby) had an idea that seemed radical: to revolutionize the gig economy by eliminating the distinction between employees and independent contractors. Kody Boye, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025 The hourly wage offered by gig economy applications widely varies depending on your work type. Enoch Omololu, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for gig economy

Word History

Etymology

gig entry 1

First Known Use

2009, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gig economy was in 2009

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Cite this Entry

“Gig economy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gig%20economy. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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