free agent

noun

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of free agent

: a professional athlete (such as a baseball player) who is free to negotiate a contract with any team

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free agency

noun

See free agent defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of free agent from the Web

Abad was 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA in 48 games with the Red Sox last year, became a free agent, agreed to a minor league contract with Philadelphia and was released March 21.

— Houston Chronicle, "Former Astros pitcher Fernando Abad suspended 80 games for steroid use," 8 June 2018
Also in the running backs room are Wendell Smallwood, Donnel Pumphrey and rookie free agent Josh Adams.

— bob ford, Philly.com, "Matt Jones is running for his football life with Eagles | Bob Ford," 7 June 2018
Improvement would have to come from within and from the free agents who were signed at lower-end deals.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Signed to an extension, Daniels gives a gloomy Rangers outlook," 7 June 2018
There is a large sample size with Dunlap temporarily out as well as Smith signing as a free agent in Cleveland, Clarke in Tampa Bay and Gilberry retired.

— paul dehner jr., Cincinnati.com, "Jordan Willis finds comfort, opportunity in second season with Cincinnati Bengals," 7 June 2018
The leader of basketball operations not being able to keep team secrets in-house would only dampen the appeal of the Sixers for free agents looking for a new team, no matter how young or talented the team is.

— micah singleton, The Verge, "The president of the Philadelphia 76ers just ‘resigned’ over a massive Twitter scandal," 7 June 2018
Toure is now a free agent having left Manchester after eight years, the club unveiling a mosaic of the midfielder at their training ground in his honour.

— SI.com, "VIDEO: Jerome Boateng Defends 'Super' Pep Guardiola Following Yaya Toure Comments," 7 June 2018
However, on April 15 the team surprisingly rescinded the tender, making McCain a free agent.

— dan woike, latimes.com, "Chargers knew of battery complaint against Chris McCain when they rescinded contract offer," 6 June 2018
Aguilar grew up in the Cleveland organization after being signed as a 17-year-old amateur free agent in 2007, rising through the system and eventually making it to the major leagues in 2014.

— todd rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Notes: Brewers' Jesús Aguilar returns to Cleveland with something to show his former team," 6 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'free agent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of free agent

1955

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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FREE AGENT Defined for English Language Learners

free agent

noun

Definition of free agent for English Language Learners

: a person who is able to act freely without being controlled by someone else
: a professional athlete (such as a baseball player) who is free to sign a contract to play for any team