freewill

1 of 2

adjective

free·​will ˈfrē-ˌwil 

: voluntary, spontaneous

free will

2 of 2

noun

1

: voluntary choice or decision

I do this of my own free will

2

: freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by divine intervention

Synonyms

Adjective

• self-imposed
• uncoerced
• unforced
• volitional
• voluntary
• volunteer
• willing

Noun

• accord
• autonomy
• choice
• self-determination
• volition
• will

Examples of freewill in a Sentence

Adjective

a freewill confession of guilt made by the suspect during police interrogation

our office staff made a freewill offering for UNESCO

Noun

He argues that all humans have free will.

all of the workers at the homeless shelter are unpaid and are there of their own free will

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Coach for Men captures the never-resting energy of the city that never sleeps and the freewill spontaneity of all those who call it home. —Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022

All, too, will take place without a live audience and include links for freewill donations to nonprofits supporting Cleveland-area musicians and musical programs during coronavirus. —Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 2 June 2020

Noun

But these pseudo-philosophical musings on the nature of free will and fate, which wouldn’t sound especially out of place in a stoned freshman’s dorm room, are at least presented with some panache, as a vengeful orphan challenges a crumbling city’s unfeeling ruler to a game of Go. —Scott Meslow, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024

Seduction brings the poem’s central predicament—how to reconcile free will and divine decree—down from Heaven to Earth. —Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1535, in the meaning defined above

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

freewill

1 of 2 adjective

free·​will ˌfrē-ˌwil 

: of or done by one's own free will : voluntary

a freewill offering

free will

2 of 2 noun

ˈfrē-ˈwil

: one's own choice or decision