free agent

American  

noun

1. a person who is self-determining and is not responsible for their actions to any authority.

2. a professional athlete who is not under contract and is free to auction off their services and sign a contract with the team that offers the most money.

---

free agent British  

noun

1. a person whose actions are not constrained by others

---

free agent Idioms  

1. A person not under compulsion or constraint, not responsible to any authority for his or her actions. For example, After he quit his job, he decided to pursue the same line of work as a free agent . Originally used to describe a person subject to the philosophic concept of free will (as opposed to determinism), this expression was first recorded in 1662. Later it was extended to mean “someone not under obligation to an authority.”

2. A professional athlete who is free to sign a contract with any team. For example, After he was released from the Yankees, he was a free agent and could shop around for the team that offered the most money . [Second half of 1900s]

---

Other Word Forms

• free agency noun
• free agentry noun

Etymology

Origin of free agent

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

He will earn $140 million—potentially rising to $150 million with performance-based incentives—and still become a free agent at the age of 28, three years later than he otherwise would.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The so-called “transfer portal” – a period when college athletes make it known that they are willing to switch schools – operates like a free agent market in pro sports leagues.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

It led to him getting taken off the Reds’ 40-man roster at the end of last season and sent to triple-A Louisville — a minor league assignment he rejected, making him a free agent.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

Set to become a free agent this offseason, Carlson had 10 goals and 46 points in 55 games with the Capitals this season.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

I know where the others are, and although, under any other circumstances, I’d be better off as a free agent, I’m thinking our strange little fellowship might be worth maintaining.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman