free thought

American

noun

thought unrestrained by deference to authority, tradition, or established belief, especially in matters of religion.

free thought British

noun

thought unrestrained and uninfluenced by dogma or authority, esp in religious matters

"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

Etymology

Origin of free thought

First recorded in 1705–15

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:

free thought

For many Russians, disagreement signals not free thought but chaotic disunity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 22, 2026

Two new novels test the idea that asking “Why?” can be the best defense against grown-ups who push groupthink over free thought.

From New York Times ● Sep. 2, 2022

In a speech to the Secular Student Alliance in 2013, Kirkhart said that an atheist’s devotion to free thought should be equal to or greater than a religious person’s devotion to God.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2021

It would seem that “a balanced whole” that combines “the qualities of body, will and mind” would find room for free thought and free expression, especially given the gravity of the moment.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 11, 2020

The term Secularism was chosen to express the extension of free thought to ethics.

From English Secularism A Confession Of Belief by George Jacob Holyoake

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023