free spirit

noun

plural free spirits

: a person who thinks and acts in an uninhibited way without worrying about normal social rules : nonconformist

Their daughter is a real free spirit.

Von der Becke thinks of himself now as a free spirit: a sort of drug-free, hard-working hippie.

—Tim Cahill

Here was a man of extraordinary sensitivity, political acumen, spiritual power, and sexual wildness; a free spirit if ever there was one.

—Alice Walker

free-spirited

ˈfrē-ˈspir-ə-təd 

adjective

Synonyms

• bohemian
• maverick
• lone ranger
• lone wolf
• enfant terrible

Examples of free spirit in a Sentence

Their daughter is a real free spirit.

an artistically inclined free spirit who felt alienated and stifled while growing up in a small town

Recent Examples on the Web

For decades, Ibiza has been drawing free spirits, New Age wellness seekers, and party people who keep its clubs pulsing until dawn. —Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025

Anna is a free spirit who marches to the beat of her own drum. —Lisa Stardust, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Ultimately, though, Kim chose to give his rose to Faith, a free spirit and fellow Washingtonian. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Like so many Weimar-era free spirits, Astfalck-Vietz saw her career abruptly hobbled by the political ascent of Adolf Hitler, which began in 1933. —Andrew Pulver, Air Mail, 12 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above