[self-em-ploid, self-] 
| earning one's living directly from one's own profession or business, as a freelance writer or artist, rather than as an employee earning salary or commission from another. |
| self-em·ployed (sělf'ěm-ploid') adj. Earning one's livelihood directly from one's own trade or business rather than as an employee of another. self'-em·ploy'ment n. |