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

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 • Apr. 4, 2025

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

From Salon • Oct. 3, 2021

“Los Olvidados” progressed like a soap opera, one scene cutting into the seemingly unrelated next one — highlights being jet-speed free form and mournful march sections with beautiful solos from Shepp and a wah-wah-muted ElSaffar.

From Washington Post • Feb. 11, 2019

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

He could not infuse into the free form of popular drama the passion and splendour of his own genius, and thus create a type of tragedy that was at once exuberant and beautiful.

From Landmarks in French Literature by Strachey, Giles Lytton