contractor

Meaning

Noun

• A person or company that builds or improves buildings.
• A person or company that performs specific tasks like electrical or plumbing work in construction projects.
• A person or company hired to maintain existing facilities like air conditioning systems, groundskeeping, etc.
• A person hired to do a job on a business contract, as opposed to a permanent employee.

Origin

• Borrowed from Late Latin contractor, from Latin contractus, stem of contractus + -tor.