freestyle

American  

[free-stahyl] / ˈfriˌstaɪl /

noun

1. Swimming.

   1. a competition in which any of the standard strokes may be used, according to the swimmer's choice.

   2. the crawl.

2. Wrestling. a style of wrestling in which the contestants are permitted to trip, tackle, and use holds below the waist.

3. a sports performance or routine featuring relatively free, unrestricted movement, or intended to demonstrate an individual's special skills or style, such as in figure skating, gymnastics, surfing, or skateboarding.

4. 1. Also called freestyle rapping.  Also called freestyle rap,.  a style of rap in which the topic, rhymes, and rhythm are improvised.

      Her first breakout rap album was all freestyle.

   2. a rap that is improvised throughout.

      He's known for his freestyles.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to perform a rap in which the topic, rhymes, and rhythms are improvised.

   Believe it or not, she’s freestyling all this.

freestyle British  

/ ˈfriːˌstaɪl /

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

2. 1. an amateur style of wrestling with an agreed set of rules

   2. Also called: all-in wrestling.  a 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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Other Word Forms

• freestyler noun

Etymology

Origin of freestyle

First recorded in 1930–35; free + style

Example Sentences

We spoke merely hours before the debut of “Freestyle: A Love Story,” a stage production that follows two lovers who meet at a freestyle show — then reconnect at a concert 20 years later.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Unlike many freestyle rap hits, Children's Story was planned and written with a deliberate story arc.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Jessie Diggins took home a bronze in the 10-kilometer freestyle, the fourth Olympic medal of her career.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

That bettered Musgrave's sixth in the 10km interval start freestyle, while Anna Pryce recorded a best British women's result at an Olympics with her 32nd place in the sprint classic.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

And then outta nowhere he tosses the football to the side and takes off sprinting toward the water, dives under and starts swimmin’ freestyle like he’s damn Michael Phelps.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

Related Words

• bathe
• crawl
• dive
• float
• glide
• paddle
• submerge
• wade