1 freewill | Definition of freewill

freewill

adjective
free·​will | \ ˈfrē-ˌwil How to pronounce freewill (audio) \

Definition of freewill

 (Entry 1 of 2)

free will

noun

Definition of free will (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : voluntary choice or decision I do this of my own free will
2 : freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by divine intervention

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Examples of freewill in a Sentence

Adjective

a freewill confession of guilt made by the suspect during police interrogation our office staff made a freewill offering for UNESCO

Noun

He argues that all humans have free will. all of the workers at the homeless shelter are unpaid and are there of their own free will
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The free community event is sponsored by Spiritual Church of Escondido; freewill offering will be accepted. San Diego Union-Tribune, "Passion 4 K.I.D.S founders visit with royalty," 29 Aug. 2019 Admission for the event sponsored by the Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library is free; freewill donations will be accepted for musicians. Linda Mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Local Marines receive scholarships from Kiwanis ... community events," 30 Apr. 2018 There is no charge for this concert; freewill donations for musicians are encouraged. Linda Mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Hand-to-Hand gives 39K in local grants," 9 Apr. 2018 The series’ third and final concert holds chamber works by French composers of Les Six. 4 p.m. Sunday, Southminster Presbyterian Church, 916 E. Central Road, Arlington Heights; freewill donation; 847-902-0733. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Recommended Chicago-area classical music concerts," 1 June 2017 Freewill offerings will benefit the Georgetown Ministry Center, which aids service-resistant, chronically homeless individuals and advocates for the homeless. Gerri Marmer, Washington Post, "Religion events from around the Washington area," 5 May 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Language is something shared between human beings with free will, and instructions and sentiments are not automatically effected in the world as if they were cast spells. Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, "What Is Facebook?," 25 June 2019 Getting them to leave another city and come here via free will is another matter. oregonlive.com, "Canzano: Portland... home to Powell’s Books, violent protests, and small free-agent signings?," 1 July 2019 Lyra, the protagonist, struggles to assert her free will in the face of unpleasant parents, while trying to set the world to rights. The Economist, "Modern British television has found its Dickens," 29 June 2019 Using a razor that is dry, sharp, and rust-free will always give you the closest, cleanest shave possible. Deanna Pai, Glamour, "How to Shave Your Legs Perfectly," 30 June 2019 The hope is that making the data free will incentivize more companies to teach their AI Icelandic. Caitlin Hu, Quartz, "Iceland is inventing a new vocabulary for a high-tech future," 2 June 2019 And now comes the classic Vonnegut subject of free will, expressed as a comic science-fiction device. Salman Rushdie, The New Yorker, "What Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five” Tells Us Now," 13 June 2019 Nick Shadow, the devil, is chained to hell, to show his lack of free will. Mark Swed, latimes.com, "Review: Stravinsky's exceedingly slow ‘Rake's Progress’ from West Hollywood to Ojai," 7 June 2019 Pakistani media have cited the girls as claiming they were married of their own free will. Munir Ahmed, The Seattle Times, "Pakistan places 2 Hindu girls in protection after conversion," 26 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'freewill.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of freewill

Adjective

1535, in the meaning defined above

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for freewill

free will

noun

English Language Learners Definition of free will

: the ability to choose how to act
: the ability to make choices that are not controlled by fate or God

free will

noun

Kids Definition of free will

: a person's own choice or decision She confessed of her own free will.

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More from Merriam-Webster on freewill

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with freewill

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for freewill

Spanish Central: Translation of freewill

Nglish: Translation of freewill for Spanish Speakers