Origins of “Freelance”

The term “freelance” originally comes from the world of medieval warfare. In the early 19th century, Sir Walter Scott popularized the term in his novel Ivanhoe, where he used “free lance” to describe a medieval mercenary, a warrior for hire whose “lance” (a type of weapon) was not tied to any particular lord or nation. This warrior was “free” to work for whoever paid them best, making their services independent.

In Ivanhoe, Scott wrote:

“I offered Richard the service of my Free Lances, and he refused them—I will lead them to Hull, seize on shipping, and embark for Flanders.”

Evolution of the Term

The concept stuck, and over time, “freelance” evolved from describing independent soldiers to meaning anyone who worked independently without long-term commitment to a single employer. By the 20th century, “freelance” was widely used to refer to writers, artists, and professionals who sold their skills to various clients.

Modern Usage

Today, being a “freelancer” means providing services to multiple clients, often in creative fields like writing, graphic design, programming, and consulting. Freelancers enjoy the flexibility of working on diverse projects, but they also manage their own contracts and workload independently.