free market
noun
plural free markets
: an economic system in which prices are based on competition among private businesses and are not controlled or regulated by a government : a market (see market entry 1 sense 4d) operating by free competition
… the free market works best when businesses compete to provide the best services …—
Chris Tomlinson
Chris TomlinsonA free market, technically, requires no government intervention, which is why capitalists usually land on the right of the political spectrum. In America, the government regulates businesses for reasons of social welfare and public safety …, so we don't operate in a truly free market.—Carolyn Twersky
—often hyphenated when used before another nounCarolyn Twerskyfree-market competition
free-market principles
One of the basic premises of the free-market system is that actors are free to buy from or sell to a variety of other actors.—Barry C. Lynn
Barry C. LynnExamples of free market in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The democracy, the country that wants free markets, the country that wasn't to align with us.
—CBS News, 7 June 2026
Political groups are really, really, really going to be targeting the Amish, especially the Republicans, since the Amish like religious freedom and also free market.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 6 June 2026
The sustainability of sky-high costs While sky-high ticket prices may exclude fans from attending the World Cup, the free market can work in the other direction too.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 June 2026
The expectation that free markets ensure greater political freedom has since been crushed in the United States as well as in China.
—Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for free market
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CBS News, 7 June 2026
Political groups are really, really, really going to be targeting the Amish, especially the Republicans, since the Amish like religious freedom and also free market.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 6 June 2026
The sustainability of sky-high costs While sky-high ticket prices may exclude fans from attending the World Cup, the free market can work in the other direction too.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 2 June 2026
The expectation that free markets ensure greater political freedom has since been crushed in the United States as well as in China.
—Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for free market
Cite this Entry
“Free market.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20market. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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