freethinker

American  

[free-thing-ker] / ˈfriˈθɪŋ kər /

noun

1. a person who forms opinions on the basis of reason, independent of authority or tradition, especially a person whose religious opinions differ from established belief.

   Synonyms:

   atheist, agnostic, skeptic

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freethinker British  

/ ˌfriːˈθɪŋkə /

noun

1. a person who forms his or her ideas and opinions independently of authority or accepted views, esp in matters of religion

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Other Word Forms

• freethinking adjective

Etymology

Origin of freethinker

First recorded in 1685–95; free + thinker

Example Sentences

So much so that we have names for the type: maverick, individualist, iconoclast, dissenter, rebel, freethinker.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 18, 2026

A news release from the atheist and freethinker group said Mr. McBurnett responded via email, “The Facebook post has been removed, and the district will refrain from posting anything similar in the future.”

From Washington Times • Aug. 7, 2023

Among Kanye West’s defenders, the thinking goes like this: He is a genius, a freethinker, an elevated conscience.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 10, 2022

This highly stylized love letter, addressing its recipient as “Consuelo,” was written in the style of the novel Consuelo by George Sand, the French writer, feminist, socialist, and freethinker.

From Slate • May 27, 2022

Vincenzio was something of a freethinker, by the standards of the day, and had no great love of the forms and rituals of the Church.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin