freethinker

[ free-thing-ker ]

/ ˈfriˈθɪŋ kər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR freethinker ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

freestone, freestone state, freestyle, freestyling, freetail, freethinker, freetown, freeview, freeware, freeway, freewheel

Origin of freethinker

First recorded in 1685–95; free + thinker

SYNONYMS FOR freethinker

skeptic, agnostic; atheist.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR freethinker ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

free·think·ing, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for freethinking

The responsibility of a freethinking adult is to learn how to make the right judgment.
David Foster Wallace, Traditionalist? Considering ‘Both Flesh and Not: Essays’|David Masciotra|November 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Why then does Professor Huxley press the "possibility" of miracles against his Freethinking friends?
Flowers of Freethought|George W. Foote
The necessity of freethinking is shown by the endless variety of opinions which priests hold about all religious questions.
The English Church in the Eighteenth Century|Charles J. Abbey and John H. Overton
The tacit or expressed aim of all Freethinking, has ever been true thinking and pure thinking.
The Principles Of Secularism|George Jacob Holyoake

But our Sham Rao had a slight tendency to freethinking, as we knew, and besides, he was too much of an admirer of Haeckel.
From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan|Helena Pretrovna Blavatsky
For his freethinking opinions he was obliged to leave his country and reside in Paris.
A Biographical Dictionary of Freethinkers of All Ages and Nations|Joseph Mazzini Wheeler

British Dictionary definitions for freethinking

freethinker

/ (ˌfriːˈθɪŋkə) /

noun

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

Derived Forms

freethinking, noun, adjective

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