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freestyle

[free-stahyl]
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noun
  1. Swimming.
    1. competition in which any of the standard strokes may be used, according to the swimmer's choice.
    2. the crawl.
  2. Wrestling. catch-as-catch-can.
  3. (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.
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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

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British Dictionary definitions for freestyle

freestyle

noun
  1. 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
  3. a series of acrobatics performed in skiing, etc
  4. (as modifier)a freestyle event
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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

n.

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).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper