free fall

¹

noun

1. the hypothetical fall of a body such that the only force acting upon it is that of gravity.

2. the part of a parachute jump that precedes the opening of the parachute.

3. a decline, especially a sudden or rapid decline, as in value or prestige, that appears to be endless or bottomless.

   The economy was in a free fall all winter.

free-fall

²

[free-fawl]

verb (used without object)

free-fell, free-fallen, free-falling. 

1. (of parachutists) to descend initially, as for a designated interval, in a free fall.

   The jumpers were required to free-fall for eight seconds.

adjective

1. denoting or suggesting a free fall.

   a free-fall recession.

noun

1. free fall.

free fall

noun

1. free descent of a body in which the gravitational force is the only force acting on it

2. the part of a parachute descent before the parachute opens

free fall

1. In physics, the motion of a body being acted upon only by gravity. A satellite in orbit is in free fall, as is a skydiver (if we neglect the effects of air resistance).

During free fall, objects are said to be weightless.

Word History and Origins

Origin of free fall¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Origin of free fall²

First recorded in 1830–40

Idioms and Phrases

A rapid, uncontrolled decline, as in The markets threatened to go into free fall and we came close to outright panic. This term transfers the aeronautical meaning of a free fall, that is, “a fall through the air without any impedance, such as a parachute,” to other kinds of precipitous drop. [Second half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

But gifted playwrights know how to read the signs of a society in free fall.

From Los Angeles Times

The party had lost 10 million votes between the 2019 general election and 2024 and its dire opinion poll ratings appeared to be in free fall, he told them.

From BBC

Still, there is no denying that, like all awards shows, the Emmys are in a ratings free fall.

From Los Angeles Times

After a two- or three-second pause, the plane went into “free fall for about eight to 10 seconds,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

He set a record for fastest free fall, descending 127,852 feet at 843.6 mph and becoming the first human to break the sound barrier without the assistance of a vehicle.

From Los Angeles Times