unfree

adjective

un·​free ˌən-ˈfrē How to pronounce unfree (audio)
Synonyms of unfreenext
: not free : lacking freedom
unfree laborers
an unfree decision
unfreedom
ˌən-ˈfrē-dəm How to pronounce unfree (audio)
noun

Examples of unfree in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The threat of the prison is that you’re targeted and unfree, packed into a queasy, pressurized intimacy with the most dangerous parts of yourself and others. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Merton did not believe in the cold war’s strident moral opposition between the free and unfree worlds. — Pankaj Mishra, The New York Review of Books, 27 Aug. 2026 The electoral defeat of Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary in April reminded the world that despite having rewritten the rules of the political game in his own favor, a strongman can lose, even in an unfree and unfair election. — Ian Bremmer, Time, 16 June 2026 Other places had other forms of unfree or bonded labor. — Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unfree

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unfree was in the 15th century

Rhymes for unfree

See All Rhymes for unfree

Browse Nearby Words

unfraught
unfree
unfreedom
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unfree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfree. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on unfree

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unfree

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All