free-living
adjective
free-liv·ing
ˈfrē-ˈli-viŋ 
1
: marked by more than usual freedom in the gratification of appetites
2
a
: not fixed to the substrate but capable of motility
a free-living protozoan
b
: being metabolically independent : neither parasitic nor symbiotic
a free-living adult hairworm
Examples of free-living in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So, Carl Safina listened, watched, and took meticulous notes as this little being gradually became a free-living owl spending most of its time a few feet from the author’s back door.
—
Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
For example, since January, disease experts scattered throughout the agency have answered more than 1,500 calls from providers caring for patients with malaria, parasitic diseases, free-living amoebas, diphtheria, and botulism, according to numbers from the CDC.
—Keren Landman, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
All eukaryotic cells, including our own, trace their evolutionary origins to a free-living ancestor.
—Claire L. Evans, Quanta Magazine, 30 July 2025
The free-living, hard-drinking Brett uses wit and jollity to mask her inner desperation.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025
It’s caused by the free-living ameba, Naegleria fowleri, the report said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2025
More than 80 percent of the world’s dogs are free-living animals that fend for themselves and are not under human control, Dr. Lord said.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2025
Dr Somers currently studies the drivers of variation in the gut microbiome of wild free-living songbirds.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
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.
Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
For example, since January, disease experts scattered throughout the agency have answered more than 1,500 calls from providers caring for patients with malaria, parasitic diseases, free-living amoebas, diphtheria, and botulism, according to numbers from the CDC.
—Keren Landman, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
All eukaryotic cells, including our own, trace their evolutionary origins to a free-living ancestor.
—Claire L. Evans, Quanta Magazine, 30 July 2025
The free-living, hard-drinking Brett uses wit and jollity to mask her inner desperation.
—Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 June 2025
It’s caused by the free-living ameba, Naegleria fowleri, the report said.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2025
More than 80 percent of the world’s dogs are free-living animals that fend for themselves and are not under human control, Dr. Lord said.
—Emily Anthes, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2025
Dr Somers currently studies the drivers of variation in the gut microbiome of wild free-living songbirds.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Free-living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free-living. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
free-living
adjective
free-liv·ing
ˈfrē-ˈliv-iŋ
1
: not fixed to the substrate but capable of motility
a free-living protozoan
2
: being metabolically independent : neither parasitic nor symbiotic
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share