freestyle

American  

[free-stahyl] / ˈfriˌstaɪl /

noun

1. Swimming.

   1. a competition in which any of the standard strokes may be used, according to the swimmer's choice.

   2. the crawl.

2. Wrestling. a style of wrestling in which the contestants are permitted to trip, tackle, and use holds below the waist.

3. a sports performance or routine featuring relatively free, unrestricted movement, or intended to demonstrate an individual's special skills or style, such as in figure skating, gymnastics, surfing, or skateboarding.

4. 1. Also called freestyle rapping.  Also called freestyle rap,.  a style of rap in which the topic, rhymes, and rhythm are improvised.

      Her first breakout rap album was all freestyle.

   2. a rap that is improvised throughout.

      He's known for his freestyles.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to perform a rap in which the topic, rhymes, and rhythms are improvised.

   Believe it or not, she’s freestyling all this.

freestyle British  

/ ˈfriːˌstaɪl /

noun

1. a competition or race, as in swimming, in which each participant may use a style of his or her choice instead of a specified style

2. 1. an amateur style of wrestling with an agreed set of rules

   2. Also called: all-in wrestling.  a style of professional wrestling with no internationally agreed set of rules

3. a series of acrobatics performed in skiing, etc

4. ( as modifier )

   a freestyle event

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Other Word Forms

• freestyler
  noun

Etymology

Origin of freestyle

First recorded in 1930–35; free + style

Explanation

In sports, a freestyle race allows the athlete to choose between different methods of competing. Swimmers can use any stroke in a freestyle event (though they almost always choose the front crawl). In swimming, freestyle is synonymous with the crawl — but that's only because most swimmers choose to swim this fast stroke in freestyle races. Officially, freestyle offers a choice between crawl, breaststroke, butterfly, or backstroke. Sports that allow for creativity are often described as freestyle, too, like freestyle BMX events and freestyle skiing, both of which involve jumps and tricks. Freestyle was coined from the idea that athletes are free to choose the style they prefer.

Example Sentences

Freestyle skier Zoe Atkin won bronze in the women's halfpipe to secure Great Britain's fifth medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, equalling the team's record-best haul.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

Freestyle skier Elizabeth Lemley stunned her own teammate Jaelin Kauf in the women’s moguls.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026

Freestyle skier Kirsty Muir missed out on Great Britain's first medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics by the narrowest of margins with a fourth-place finish in the women's slopestyle.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Miranda’s ability to compose rap on the spot, showcased on Tony Awards shows and in performances of his Freestyle Love Supreme hip-hop group, suggest far more than mere craft or dexterity.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2025

In "Taylor Made Freestyle," which only debuted on social media, Drake implemented AI vocals from the late rapper, Tupac Shakur, and Snoop Dogg.

From Salon • May 7, 2024

Related Words

• bathe
• crawl
• dive
• float
• glide
• paddle
• submerge
• wade