gig

A gig is a term with several related meanings in contemporary usage. In the labor market, a gig is a short-term or freelance job or engagement, often organized through digital platforms. People who work gigs may be compensated per task, project, or performance rather than receiving a traditional salary. The term is closely associated with the gig economy, a labor market characterized by flexible, task-based work arrangements and a mix of contractors and freelancers.

In entertainment, a gig refers to a live performance or booking by a musician, artist, or performer. A single show, a club engagement, or a touring date can all be described as a gig. The concept emphasizes an informal or contractual engagement rather than a long-term employment relationship.

Historically, the word also denoted a light horse-drawn carriage, typically known as a gig, used for transport. The broad sense of the term later shifted to describe a temporary or one-off task or performance.

In information technology and digital media, "gig" is often used informally to mean a gigabyte, a unit of data equal to about one billion bytes (roughly 1,073,741,824 bytes in binary terms). The usage varies by context, but "gig" remains a common shorthand in casual speech.

Etymology and evolution reflect the term’s core idea of a compact, activity-focused assignment, a short engagement, or a small-scale transport or data unit, depending on the context.