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.

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free agent British  

noun

1. a person whose actions are not constrained by others

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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]

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Other Word Forms

• free agency noun
• free agentry noun

Etymology

Origin of free agent

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

PDT, teams can legally negotiate with representatives of unrestricted free agents to agree to terms on contracts.

From Los Angeles Times

The negotiating period for representatives of unrestricted free agents to speak with other teams begins Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

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

The only problem is that they’re staring at an unusually shallow pool of free agents.

From The Wall Street Journal

The unusually thin free agent class means few available stars may land eye-popping contracts, while lesser-known players could command surprising sums.

From The Wall Street Journal