freebie

American  

[free-bee] / ˈfri bi /

Or freebee

noun

Informal.

1. something given without charge or cost, as a ticket to a performance or sports event or a free sample at a store.

   Freebies can be very useful in promoting your brand or business.

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freebie British  

/ ˈfriːbɪ /

noun

1. something provided without charge

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adjective

1. without charge; free

Etymology

Origin of freebie

1925–30, free + -bie, of uncertain origin; perhaps originally a noun phrase free bee, with bee ² as in put the bee on to borrow money with no intention of repaying it

Explanation

A gift or handout, something that doesn't cost money, is a freebie. Guests at fancy award shows usually get bags full of expensive freebies. The informal word freebie means "something given free of charge," and it's an especially good term for marketing or promotional items that are handed out as advertising. Your local bank might pass out Frisbees with their address and phone number printed on them as freebies, for example. The word dates from about 1900, from free and the informal ending -ie, which is also used in newbie.

Example Sentences

I’m going to venture that a $60 seat for the World Cup will be harder to get than a freebie to the Eras tour, or perhaps even an audience with the pope.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

Amazon’s past cloud computing investments came with side benefits—like keeping Prime Video cheap enough to offer as a freebie for Amazon Prime shoppers.

From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025

If a freebie or discount is offered for an extra perk that you may not care about, then what’s to get excited about?

From MarketWatch • Nov. 26, 2025

The freebie was introduced in 2013 but the terms were changed four years later to apply to customers who had shopped in-store, before being completely scrapped during Covid and then gradually reintroduced.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2025

We pass this news box every day, and Pouncey knows just where to kick it for the lid to open and give us a freebie.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman