freestanding
Americanadjective
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(of sculpture or architectural elements) unattached to a supporting unit or background; standing alone.
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not affiliated with others of its kind; independent; autonomous.
a freestanding clinic, not connected with any hospital.
adjective
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standing apart; not attached to or supported by another object
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(in systemic grammar) denoting a clause that can stand alone as a sentence; denoting or being a main clause Compare bound 1
Etymology
Origin of freestanding
Explanation
Freestanding things are unattached or separate from any other structure or support. A freestanding garage isn't connected to a house — it's a separate building. Some houses, like row houses or townhouses, are connected to the house next door, sharing a common wall. Freestanding houses, on the other hand, are completely detached, with space between each. You can also use the adjective freestanding more figuratively, to describe something that isn't reliant or connected: "It's a freestanding literary club — it's completely separate from and independent of the school."
Vocabulary lists containing freestanding
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A towering freestanding fireplace and sitting area flanked by olive trees anchor one end, and on the other, the pool area.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Using a freestanding fan for a 24-hour period typically costs between 15p and 31p, according to the latest guidance from the Energy Saving Trust, external.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
The method begins by creating ultrathin freestanding silicon nanomembranes from a donor wafer.
From Science Daily ● May 30, 2026
But when petitioners with freestanding innocence claims request habeas review, they are told to try clemency instead.
From Slate ● May 29, 2026
The house—well, she apologizes for it, though three bedrooms in a freestanding building for $825 a month doesn’t seem so bad to me at the moment.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
