free variation

noun Linguistics.

a relation between the members of a pair of phones, phonemes, morphs, or other linguistic entities such that either of the two may occur in the same position with no change in the meaning of the utterance: in the first syllable of “economics,” “e” and “ē” are in free variation.

Words nearby free variation

free throw line, free trade, free trader, free university, free variable, free variation, free verse, free vibration, free vote, free weight, free will

Compare complementary distribution.