free association

noun

, Psychoanalysis.

1. the uncensored expression of the ideas, impressions, etc., passing through the mind of the analysand, a technique used to facilitate access to the unconscious.

free association

noun

1. psychoanal a method of exploring a person's unconscious by eliciting words and thoughts that are associated with key words provided by a psychoanalyst
2. a spontaneous mental process whereby ideas, words, or images suggest other ideas, etc, in a nonlogical chain reaction

Word History and Origins

Origin of free association¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The requirement, they said, chills the protected First Amendment speech of their donors and violates their right to free association.

From Washington Post

These issues are tied up in the incentives and structures of the traditional media environment, the simultaneous weakness and power of US political parties, and really hard issues of privacy and free association.

From Fortune

Non sequiturista Renata Espinosa plays a game of free association with the Fall 2009 collections.

From The Daily Beast

This is the method of free association, or "Anarchism in intellectual production."

From Project Gutenberg

It is not free association, but the forms of association which they would impose upon us.

From Project Gutenberg

We have developed toward individualism and control rather than toward free association under leadership.

From Project Gutenberg

The working-men obtained a right previously restricted to the aristocracy and bourgeoisie, the right of free association.

From Project Gutenberg

What was the attitude of mind in allowing this free association between Isabel and me?

From Project Gutenberg