freedman

American  

[freed-muhn] / ˈfrid mən /

noun

plural

freedmen

1. a man who has been freed from slavery.

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freedman British  

/ ˈfriːdˌmæn /

noun

1. a man who has been freed from slavery

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Other Word Forms

• freedwoman
  noun

Etymology

Origin of freedman

First recorded in 1595–1605; freed ( def. ) + man

Explanation

An enslaved person who legally gained freedom was once known as a freedman. The term was most popular during and just after the Civil War. Before the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, a formerly enslaved person was commonly referred to as a "free Black" or "free Negro." Freedman and freedwoman became the preferred terms after the Civil War. During Reconstruction, President Lincoln established a Freedman's Bureau that was intended to help formerly enslaved people find shelter and jobs, learn to read and write, and connect with their scattered family members.

Example Sentences

Freedman blasted the motion as “one of the most abhorrent examples of abusing our legal system.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

“We’re going into this with a glass-half-full perspective,” said Eric Freedman, chief investment officer at Northern Trust Wealth Management.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

“We continue to emphasize the conflict’s breadth and duration as the main factors shaping markets,” said Eric Freedman, chief investment officer for Northern Trust Wealth Management, in a report Friday.

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

Many homes need new wiring, larger breakers or a full panel replacement, and some require upgrades to the service connection to the grid, said Matthew Freedman of the Utility Reform Network.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

Listening to Ms. Freedman, the seventh-grade science teacher, describe the spring unit on the solar system reminded me that I was really going to be there for the entire school year.

From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez