free market

American  

noun

1. an economic system in which prices and wages are determined by unrestricted competition between businesses, without government regulation or fear of monopolies.

---

free market British  

noun

1. 1. an economic system that allows supply and demand to regulate prices, wages, etc, rather than government policy

   2. ( as modifier )

      a free-market economy

---

free market Cultural  

1. The production and exchange of goods and services without interference from the government or from monopolies.

---

Other Word Forms

• free marketeer
  noun
• free-market
  adjective

Example Sentences

But people don’t want a free market with live music.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

The free market produced unprecedented growth in U.S. oil and gas production and exports.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

The future of Rodman was of great interest to Europe's most successful clubs with the potential to pick up a world-class player in the free market.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

So the advisory firms arose from a free market to offer them analysis.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 9, 2026

Inside the free market, however, there might be some authority capable of checking its excess.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• liberalism