Origin: Latin prefix contra-
Contractor has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
someone (a person or firm) who contracts to build things
"The new contractor finished pouring the foundation for our house just ahead of schedule."
the bridge player in contract bridge who wins the bidding and can declare which suit is to be trumps
"After a tense auction, Sarah became the contractor when she accepted the bid of seven spades."
(law) a party to a contract
"When the lawyer explained that both the homeowner and the builder were parties to the agreement, she noted that each held equal legal standing as contractors."
a bodily organ that contracts
"The surgeon warned that if the heart muscle, which is essentially a powerful contractor of blood, stops working properly, it could lead to fatal consequences."
A person or company that builds or improves buildings.
"We hired a local contractor to add a new deck to our backyard patio."
In plain English: A contractor is someone hired to do a specific job for another person or company.
"The contractor arrived at our house to fix the leaky roof."
Usage: A contractor is an individual or business hired to build, repair, or improve structures and infrastructure. You use this term when referring to the professional responsible for executing construction projects rather than the property owner or architect.
The word entered English in the 16th century from the Late Latin term contractor. It originally referred to someone who had contracted or bound themselves by agreement, which aligns with its modern meaning of a person hired to carry out work under a contract.