contractor
UK: kənˈtræktə | US: ˈkɑːnˌtræktər
n. a person or company that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labor for a job
n. (law) a party to a contract
n. (biology) a muscle that shortens or tightens a part
The word "contractor" originates from Latin contractus (past participle of contrahere, meaning "to draw together"). The morpheme con- (together) combines with tract (from trahere, "to pull/draw"), reflecting the idea of binding agreements. The suffix -or denotes an agent, forming "one who draws together" (i.e., a party bound by or executing a contract). Over time, it specialized to refer to professionals hired under formal agreements.
The contractor finished building the house ahead of schedule.
She hired a freelance contractor to design the website.
The city awarded the road repair project to a local contractor.
As an independent contractor, he manages his own taxes.
The contractor breached the terms of the agreement.