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Synonyms

freehold

1 American  
[free-hohld] / ˈfriˌhoʊld /

  1. an estate in land, inherited or held for life.

noun

  1. a form of tenure by which an estate is held in fee simple, fee tail, or for life.

adjective

  1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or held by freehold.

Freehold 2 American  
[free-hohld] / ˈfriˌhoʊld /

noun

  1. a town in E New Jersey: battle of Monmouth courthouse 1778.

freehold British  
/ ˈfriːˌhəʊld /

noun

    1. tenure by which land is held in fee simple, fee tail, or for life

    2. an estate held by such tenure

"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

adjective

  1. relating to or having the nature of freehold

"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 freehold

1375–1425; late Middle English frehold ( free, hold 1 ); translation of Anglo-French franc tenement ( frank 1, tenement )

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.

This won't affect people like Tarran Wilson, who will still have to pay charges, because he is in a freehold.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

The 1,500-acre freehold integrated industrial hub has an estimated gross development value of MYR3.5 billion over 10 years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

Some reports have suggested there are divisions between the Treasury and housing department over the issue, with officials concerned about the impact of a cap on pension funds which own freehold properties.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

Letters sent to homeowners in Sheffield threatening High Court legal action after a solicitor bought the freehold for their houses have been described by recipients as "scaremongering" and "aggressive".

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

The government wanted to control the movements of all Africans, and such control was far more difficult in freehold urban townships, where blacks could own property, and people came and went as they pleased.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.