freestyle

[free-stahyl]

See more synonyms for freestyle on Thesaurus.com

noun

Swimming.
1. competition in which any of the standard strokes may be used, according to the swimmer's choice.
2. the crawl.
Wrestling. catch-as-catch-can.
(in other sports) a performance or routine featuring relatively free, unrestricted movement or intended to demonstrate an individual's special skills or style, as in figure skating, gymnastics, or surfing.

Origin of freestyle

First recorded in 1930–35; free + style

Related formsfree·styl·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for freestyle

bathe, glide, dive, float, paddle, submerge, wade, crawl, move, slip, practice, stroke, race, freestyle, skinny-dip, dog-paddle

Examples from the Web for freestyle

Contemporary Examples of freestyle

Five years later she would be the first woman to win a Monster Jam Finals Championship in the freestyle category.
The Moms of Monster Jam Drive Trucks, Buck Macho Culture
Eliza Krigman
November 22, 2014
Freestyle co-president Mark Borde says the film specifically targets the “underserved” Christian-singles community.
‘Old Fashioned’: Your Christian-Friendly, Kink-Free Alternative to ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’
Asawin Suebsaeng
July 30, 2014
Freestyle is surely hoping for a repeat of that faith-driven success.
‘Old Fashioned’: Your Christian-Friendly, Kink-Free Alternative to ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’
Asawin Suebsaeng
July 30, 2014
IMPROVISATION Robert Iscove: Those kids made up that freestyle rap scene!
‘She’s All That' 15th Anniversary: Cast and Crew Reminisce About the Making of the ‘90s Classic
Marlow Stern
January 29, 2014
J. Cole—“Jodeci (Freestyle)” Haim—“The Wire” Phoenix — “Trying to Be Cool” Arctic Monkeys—“Do I Wanna Know?”
The 13 Best Songs of 2013: Lorde, Kanye West, Beyoncé, and More
Marlow Stern
December 28, 2013

British Dictionary definitions for freestyle

freestyle

noun

a competition or race, as in swimming, in which each participant may use a style of his or her choice instead of a specified style
1. an amateur style of wrestling with an agreed set of rules
2. Also called: all-in wrestlinga style of professional wrestling with no internationally agreed set of rules
a series of acrobatics performed in skiing, etc
(as modifier)a freestyle event

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

Word Origin and History for freestyle

1912, in swimming, in reference to a distance race in which the swimmers may use whatever stroke they choose; 1950 in general use, from free + style. As an adjective, from 1957; as a verb, by 1970 (in martial arts).