free form

¹ American  

noun

1. a shape having an irregular contour, chiefly used in nonrepresentational art and industrial design.

2. Linguistics. a linguistic form that can occur by itself, as fire, book, or run.

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free-form ² American  

[free-fawrm, free-fawrm] / ˈfriˌfɔrm, ˈfriˈfɔrm /

Or freeform

adjective

1. characterized by free form.

   free-form sculpture.

2. not organized or planned in a conventional way.

   a free-form international conglomerate.

3. encouraged to function or evolve without advance planning; spontaneous.

   free-form management.

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adverb

1. without restrictions or preconceptions.

   The children were allowed to paint free-form.

free form British  

noun

1. an irregular flowing shape, often used in industrial or fabric design

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adjective

1. freely flowing, spontaneous

Etymology

Origin of free form¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Origin of free-form²

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Slab pies and galettes are rustic and free form, but that doesn't mean they're ugly.

From Salon • Oct. 3, 2021

It was definitely free form, even in El Segundo, where Ian danced for the camera, and Adam grabbed the big cake knife and mussed his mother’s carefully pinned, self-styled hair.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2020

Many were drawn to slam poetry’s free form, which rewards wordplay and can be less intimidating for those with no formal education.

From Washington Post • Dec. 28, 2018

For one moment, there is only the molten dawn sun lighting the sky a poet red and the air racing cooly past him as he drops in free form flight.

From Slate • Feb. 19, 2018

Another defect of the process lies in sulphur being volatilised in the free form, and settling upon the wool causes it to turn yellow, and this yellow colour cannot be got rid of.

From The Dyeing of Woollen Fabrics by Beech, Franklin