freecycle

[ free-sahy-kuhl ]

verb (used with object)

, free·cy·cled, free·cy·cling.

1. to give away (used goods or materials) to people who want them, or to obtain (such items) for free.

verb (used without object)

, free·cy·cled, free·cy·cling.

1. to exchange used items for free.

noun

1. an online community that facilitates such exchanges.

freecycle

/ ˈfriːˌsaɪkəl /

noun

1. an informal network of citizens who cooperate online to promote recycling by offering one another unwanted items free of charge

verb

1. tr to recycle (an unwanted item) by offering it to someone free of charge

Other Words From

• freecycler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of freecycle¹

2000–05; blend of free and recycle

Example Sentences

Rockefeller met Liesl Clark, who would become her Buy Nothing co-founder, in 2009 via the Bainbridge Island Freecycle group.

From Seattle Times

"We've had to save money wherever we could, so a lot of foraging in skips and scouring freecycle for hours on end looking for free wood," said Amie.

From BBC

Online groups such as the Buy Nothing Project and Freecycle have numerous members who swap items, including children’s clothes, at no cost to people in their communities.

From Washington Post

Donated by Loser Marleen May, who picked it up on Freecycle.

From Washington Post

Making new things out of others’ castoffs is something small-town America has done for decades, in a sort of municipal precursor to Freecycle or Buy Nothing groups.

From New York Times