plural freaks
1
: someone or something that differs markedly from what is usual or standard
When you first start golf, unless you're some freak, usually you suck.—
Hunter Pertee, quoted in The Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio)
: such as
Hunter Pertee, quoted in The Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio)
a
slang, sometimes disparaging
: someone whose behavior, dress, etc. is considered socially or culturally atypical
"This is about being up in people's faces," says a man with … multiple piercings. "It's me saying, 'I am a freak. I am queer. I'm not like you. And I don't want to be like you, either.'"—Guy Trebay
Guy TrebayShe becomes visibly indignant while recounting a recent run-in …, where her guitar tech, who resembles a slightly punkier version of Slash, was stopped and frisked by police for no other reason than "he kind of looks like a freak."—Sarah Vowell
Sarah Vowell
b
disparaging + usually offensive
: a person with a physical abnormality
c
: an atypical postage stamp usually caused by a unique defect in paper (such as a crease) or a unique event in the manufacturing process (such as a speck of dirt on the plate) that does not produce a constant or systematic effect
2
a
: an ardent enthusiast
film freaks
Two grilled serrano chilies, meanwhile, made this chili freak very happy, and two types of salsa brought out with our meal were superb …—Ullia Zettie
Ullia Zettie
b
: a person who is obsessed with something
a fitness freak
I'm a neat freak. I admit it. But with a cat, two dogs and two children, it's tough to keep everything clean.—Debra Dickerson
see also control freak
Debra Dickerson
c
slang
: a person who uses an illicit drug
a coke freak
see also speed freak
3
a
: an odd, unexpected, or seemingly capricious action or event
The Royal London Hospital is just up the Whitechapel Road and by a freak of good fortune, not only had its accident and emergency doctors gathered for a meeting on 7 July, but workers for the London Air Ambulance service were also holding a conference. Thirty-two trauma doctors and paramedics from all over the capital were a few hundred yards from the blast site …—Nick Cohen
Nick Cohen
b
: a sudden and odd or seemingly pointless idea or way of thinking
Her [Lady Caroline Lamb's] fame resides in her reputation for outrageous behaviour. … Neither … her husband, William Lamb, nor her aristocratic family, the Ponsonbys and Spensers, thought her writing anything more than the freak of an idle and sometimes overwrought mind.—Claire Harman
Claire HarmanEvery thing is governed by whim; and if one member starts a new freak, away all the rest follow on like wild geese in a string.—Washington Irving
Washington Irving… you should be able to stop and go on, and follow this way or that, as the freak takes you …—Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson4
archaic
: a whimsical quality or disposition
: not natural, normal, or likely
He was the victim of a freak accident.
a freak occurrence
freaked; freaking; freaks
1
: to make greatly distressed, astonished, or discomposed
—often used with out
the news freaked them out
2
: to put under the influence of a psychedelic drug
—often used with out
1
: to withdraw from reality especially by taking drugs
—often used with out
2
: to experience nightmarish hallucinations as a result of taking drugs
—often used with out
3
a
: to behave irrationally or unconventionally under the influence of drugs
—often used with out
b
: to react with extreme or irrational distress or discomposure
—often used with out
freaked; freaking; freaks
: to streak especially with color
silver and mother-of-pearl freaking the intense azure—Robert Bridges †1930
Robert Bridges †1930Examples of freak in a Sentence
Noun
eccentric, artistic types whom many regarded as freaks
I had a terrible rash on my face, and I felt like a freak.
Adjective
He was the victim of a freak accident.
even weather forecasters seemed surprised by the freak hailstorm
Verb (1)
don't talk about death, as it totally freaks me out
the landlady totally freaked out when she saw the dead body in the hall
Recent Examples on the Web
Christine Romans, CNN, 6 Jan. 2023
The latest episode of the Fox first responder series saw a freak storm system wreak havoc at a carnival, particularly for a newly single dad, Trevor (Lucifer's D.B. Woodside), who had to be rescued by the 126 twice in one day.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 25 Jan. 2023
Dallas News, 19 Oct. 2022
Officials in Kansas say a man has died after he was shot by his dog in a freak hunting accident.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 24 Jan. 2023
Chris Lee, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Related: The Real Reason Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Weren’t at Coachella Amid Breakup Rumors
Naturally, Swifties were freaking out.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for freak
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Any time America reports its economy is strong, Wall Street has a freak-out.
—Christine Romans, CNN, 6 Jan. 2023
The latest episode of the Fox first responder series saw a freak storm system wreak havoc at a carnival, particularly for a newly single dad, Trevor (Lucifer's D.B. Woodside), who had to be rescued by the 126 twice in one day.
—Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 25 Jan. 2023
Adjective
The injury came in freak fashion when running to the second level to deliver a block on a linebacker.
—Dallas News, 19 Oct. 2022
Officials in Kansas say a man has died after he was shot by his dog in a freak hunting accident.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 24 Jan. 2023
Verb
Directors owning their own movies is the opposite of business as usual — and to studios, cause for freaking out.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Related: The Real Reason Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Weren’t at Coachella Amid Breakup Rumors
Naturally, Swifties were freaking out.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for freak
Cite this Entry
“Freak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freak. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
freak
1 of 3 noun1
a
: a sudden strange idea : whim
b
: a strange, abnormal, or unusual person, thing, or event
2
a
: enthusiast
a movie freak
b
: a person who is obsessed with something
a control freak
freakish
adjective
ˈfrē-kish
freakishly
adverb
freakishness
noun
freak
2 of 3 adjective
: being or suggesting a freak : improbable
a freak accident
freak
3 of 3 verb
: to disturb one's calmness of mind : upset
—usually used with out
the news freaks me out
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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