free form

¹

noun

1. a shape having an irregular contour, chiefly used in nonrepresentational art and industrial design.
2. Linguistics. a linguistic form that can occur by itself, as fire, book, or run.

free-form

²

or free·form

[ adjective free-fawrm; adverb free-fawrm ]

adjective

1. characterized by free form:

   free-form sculpture.

2. not organized or planned in a conventional way:

   a free-form international conglomerate.

3. encouraged to function or evolve without advance planning; spontaneous:

   free-form management.

adverb

1. without restrictions or preconceptions:

   The children were allowed to paint free-form.

free form

noun

1. an irregular flowing shape, often used in industrial or fabric design

adjective

1. freely flowing, spontaneous

Word History and Origins

Origin of free form¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Origin of free form²

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

“They look like paintings to me. I’ve been drawing them since I was a kid. They’re free form and always flowing, moving. It’s that dream state.”

From Los Angeles Times

White ribbons curl across the composition, their free forms in contrast to the tightly overlapping circles produced by a mechanical plotter.

From Washington Post

On Sunday, one passenger said Ryanair staff had been warning customers at Hamburg airport after some had paid for the free forms.

From BBC

“The internet is the only free form of medium which exists against the present political regime,” he added.

From New York Times

But celebrities don’t have a lock on this free form, open-mic talent show.

From Los Angeles Times