contractors

IPA/kənˈtræk.tər/
KK[kˈɑntrˌæktɚz]IPA/ˈkɑːn.træk.tɚ/

contractors — noun

  • contractorssingular
  • contractorsesplural

1. an individual or firm formally engaged under a legal agreement to provide materi

1.名詞B1
釋義

an individual or firm formally engaged under a legal agreement to provide materials, workers, or services for a particular project, most often in construction, engineering, or large-scale maintenance.

例句

The city council hired a local contractor to repave the main roads in the district.

collocation: hire a contractor

Our contractor finished the roof two days early, saving us a lot of money.

同義詞
  • builder

    more specific; refers to someone who constructs buildings, not broader service provision

  • supplier

    focuses on providing materials rather than doing the work itself

  • vendor

    broader term; anyone who sells goods or services, not necessarily under a long-term contract

反義詞
  • client

    the person or organisation hiring the contractor

  • employee

    a worker with a permanent employment relationship rather than a contracted one

文法句型

[modifier] + contractor

contractor + verb (singular or plural with company sense)

用法筆記

The word often appears with a modifier that specifies the trade (e.g., electrical contractor, roofing contractor, general contractor). When referring to a company, the noun is grammatically singular but can take singular or plural verb forms in British English.

常見錯誤

❌We hired a contractor to fix the computer.
✅We called a technician to fix the computer.
💡'contractor' implies a formal agreement for a large project, not a one-time repair.
❌The contractor contract was signed.
✅The contractor's contract was signed.
💡The possessive form is needed when referring to the contract belonging to the contractor.

2. a person hired by a company to work on specific tasks for a fixed period, who is

2.名詞B1
釋義

a person hired by a company to work on specific tasks for a fixed period, who is responsible for their own taxes and benefits and is not treated as a permanent employee.

例句

Olivia works as an IT contractor and changes companies every six to twelve months.

pattern: work as a contractor

The bank hired Hassan as a contractor to develop their new mobile banking app.

pattern: hire [someone] as a contractor

同義詞
  • freelancer

    similar but usually refers to individual creative or professional workers, not companies

  • consultant

    suggests expert advice rather than routine project work; often higher-status

  • temp

    short for temporary worker; more common in administrative and office roles

反義詞

文法句型

work as a contractor

[company] + hire(s) + [person] + as a contractor

contractor + for + [company]

用法筆記

Common in conversations about the gig economy, tech industry, consulting, and creative fields. The key distinction from sense 1 is that this sense emphasises the employment relationship (temporary, non-employee) rather than the type of work or project.

常見錯誤

❌I am a contractor for five years at this company.
✅I have been working as a contractor at this company for five years.
💡'contractor' describes the worker's classification, not the type of job.
❌She is a full-time contractor with benefits.
✅She works as a contractor but receives benefits.
💡A contractor by definition does not receive standard employee benefits; calling someone a 'full-time contractor' can be confusing.