A gig is a job or task, especially one that's temporary or informal. Musicians use the word when they get hired to perform: a band might have a gig playing at a local coffee shop on Friday night, then another gig at a wedding the next weekend. Each performance is a separate gig.

The word has expanded beyond music. Someone might take a gig tutoring math over the summer, or pick up a gig walking dogs in their neighborhood. Unlike a traditional full-time job where you work for one employer every day, gigs are more flexible: you might work for different people, choose which opportunities to accept, and set your own schedule.

You'll hear about the “gig economy,” which refers to how many people now earn money through lots of small jobs instead of one big career. Someone in the gig economy might drive for a rideshare service, design websites for different clients, and deliver groceries, all in the same month.

The informal, temporary nature of a gig makes it different from a career or profession. A gig might last one night, one week, or one project. It's work, but it's flexible.