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Synonyms

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

    2. ( as modifier )

      a free-market economy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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


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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

We’ve been around a while and don’t recall when anyone relied “solely” on the free market.

From The Wall Street Journal May 27, 2026

Korsgaden has a free market approach that involves establishing a New Business Division in the insurance department to encourage more carriers with more diverse products to enter the market.

From Los Angeles Times May 1, 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

Private enterprise was supposed to build an industrial duty-free port in Bolivia Mar. Thus far the free market has not accepted the challenge.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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