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-form¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Horvitz invites other friends, artists and curators to produce exhibits, events and readings and collaborate with him, taking a relaxed approach to programming: He intentionally keeps the garden’s programming relatively casual and free form.

From Los Angeles Times

“They look like paintings to me. I’ve been drawing them since I was a kid. They’re free form and always flowing, moving. It’s that dream state.”

From Los Angeles Times

White ribbons curl across the composition, their free forms in contrast to the tightly overlapping circles produced by a mechanical plotter.

From Washington Post

On Sunday, one passenger said Ryanair staff had been warning customers at Hamburg airport after some had paid for the free forms.

From BBC

“The internet is the only free form of medium which exists against the present political regime,” he added.

From New York Times