gig
/ɡɪɡ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.98 in modern English
5
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
1
Syllables
2
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Originally (music), a performing engagement by a musician or musical group; (by extension, film, television, theater) a job or role for a performer.
Informal
noun
Any job, especially one that is freelance or temporary, or done on an on-demand basis.
Informal
noun
A demerit received for some infraction of a military deportment or dress code.
American usage; Informal
verb
To impose a demerit (on someone) for an infraction of a military deportment or dress code.
American usage; Informal; Transitive verb
verb
To engage in a musical performance, act in a theatre production, etc.
Informal; Intransitive verb
Example Sentences
- "I caught one of the Rolling Stones’ first gigs in Richmond."
- "Hey, when are we gonna get that hotel gig again?"
- "I had this gig as a file clerk but it wasn’t my style so I left."
- "That guy’s got a great gig over at the bike shop. He hardly works all day."
- "Whether you want to have some occasional translation gigs or turn freelance translating into your fulltime occupation, you'll need to know some essential things […]"
- "In recent decades, "gig" has become just a hip term for any temporary job or stint, with the implication you're not particularly invested in it. I think of the barista or bookstore clerk who responds to my questions with a look that says, "Hey, man, it's a gig. I don't really DO this?" That tone of insouciance has made "the gig economy" the predominant name for what's being touted as the industrial revolution of our times."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: Old French
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɡɪɡ/
- British English: /ɡɪɡ/
Usage
- Informal
- American usage
- Transitive verb
- Intransitive verb
- Slang
- Obsolete
- British usage
- Archaic