free association
noun
1
a
: the expression (as by speaking or writing) of the content of consciousness without censorship as an aid in gaining access to unconscious processes especially in psychoanalysis
b
: the reporting of the first thought that comes to mind in response to a given stimulus (such as a word)
2
: an idea or image elicited by free association
3
: a method using free association
Examples of free association in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Senior administration officials are also discussing possibly acquiring Greenland from Denmark or forming a compact of free association, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
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CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Other options the administration is considering include the formation of a compact of free association or acquiring the territory from Denmark, CBS News reported.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Under a compact of free association, Palauans can live, work, and study in the U.S., while Washington helps fund the local government and maintains military access to the islands.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 25 Dec. 2025
The case alleges violations of the agents' First Amendment rights to free association and their Fifth Amendment right to due process.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for free association
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CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Other options the administration is considering include the formation of a compact of free association or acquiring the territory from Denmark, CBS News reported.
—Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Under a compact of free association, Palauans can live, work, and study in the U.S., while Washington helps fund the local government and maintains military access to the islands.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 25 Dec. 2025
The case alleges violations of the agents' First Amendment rights to free association and their Fifth Amendment right to due process.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for free association
Cite this Entry
“Free association.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20association. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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