free world

noun

(often initial capital letters)

1. the nations of the world that function chiefly under democratic and capitalistic systems rather than under totalitarianism or Communism.

Free World

noun

1. the non-Communist countries collectively, esp those that are actively anti-Communist

Other Word Forms

• free-world adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of free world¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

We learned that the president of the United States acted like a common thug in private, issuing orders to his enforcers in language closer to that used by the mobsters featured in the recent hit movie “The Godfather” than the dignified leader of the free world.

From Salon

American exceptionalism will not save the country from this dark future — or from the betrayal of its historic role as leader of the free world.

From Salon

Fifty-three years ago, the United States was still the leader of the free world — the indispensable nation.

From Salon

The set ended with the lovely ballad “Old Man” from Young’s 1972 classic album “Harvest,” where it seemed like every single person in the audience was singing along, and then the band returned and strapped on the electric guitars one more time for a rousing and cathartic “Rockin’ In The Free World,” which isn’t an uncommon closer for Young but, like some of the other topical material covered earlier in the set, has never stopped being true.

From Salon

We could still claim some moral authority as the leader of what we then referred to as the “free world,” however compromised or imperfect our actions were.

From Salon