free-rang·ing
| \ ˈfrē-ˈrān-jiŋ
\
\
Definition of free-ranging
1
: moving or able to move or range freely over a wide area without restriction
free-ranging animals I began roaming the streets to observe how free-ranging cats—feral cats and strays, as well as house cats allowed to wander freely—make a living in a city.— James E. Childs
2
: not limited or narrow in scope or extent : wide-ranging
a free-ranging discussion Mr. Enright is comparatively free-ranging and various in writing about what engages him; his subjects range from professors of literature to computers to "correctness" to aging and, above all, to words.— William H. Pritchard
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about free-ranging
Dictionary Entries near free-ranging
See More Nearby EntriesStatistics for free-ranging
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Free-ranging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free-ranging. Accessed 9 May. 2021.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Comments on free-ranging
What made you want to look up free-ranging? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Star Wars Words Quiz
-
- The bounty portion of bounty hunters (such as Boba Fett) comes from a Latin word meaning
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Anagram puzzles meet word search.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share free-ranging
Time Traveler for free-ranging
The first known use of free-ranging was in 1841
See more words from the same year