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

Durant and safety Kam Curl are among the team’s pending unrestricted free agents.

From Los Angeles Times

James will be a free agent at the end of the season and if he extends his stay in Los Angeles, is likely to be asked to take a pay cut, NBA analysts believe.

From Barron's

After a strong showing, he exercised that right and became a free agent again, this time with no draft pick attached to him.

From The Wall Street Journal

He is now able to join any club as a free agent even after Monday's transfer deadline.

From Barron's

With up to eight players slated to become free agents, the Lakers could have a much different look next season if they can’t reverse their struggles.

From Los Angeles Times