free-floating
adjective
free-float·ing
ˈfrē-ˈflō-tiŋ 
1
a
: floating freely
free-floating vegetation
b
: lacking specific attachment, direction, or purpose
free-floating ideas
2
: felt as an emotion without apparent cause
free-floating anxiety
Examples of free-floating in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Compassion and wisdom become free-floating signifiers, detached from any actual relationship to other people, masquerading as something profound.
—
Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
This free-floating arrangement and copper chemistry are particularly effective in cold, low-oxygen environments, like deep seas or burrows, where traditional hemoglobin might struggle.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 Jan. 2026
But if his gestures were free-floating, his linguistic prowess remained dense and dexterous.
—Sarah Moroz, Pitchfork, 12 Nov. 2025
The design uses two separate, free-floating foam pieces, positioned laterally and medially within the midsole.
—Cory Smith, Outside, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for free-floating
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
This free-floating arrangement and copper chemistry are particularly effective in cold, low-oxygen environments, like deep seas or burrows, where traditional hemoglobin might struggle.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 Jan. 2026
But if his gestures were free-floating, his linguistic prowess remained dense and dexterous.
—Sarah Moroz, Pitchfork, 12 Nov. 2025
The design uses two separate, free-floating foam pieces, positioned laterally and medially within the midsole.
—Cory Smith, Outside, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for free-floating
Cite this Entry
“Free-floating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free-floating. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
free-floating
adjective
free-float·ing
ˈfrē-ˈflōt-iŋ
: felt as an emotion without apparent cause
free-floating anxiety
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
