freestyle

[ free-stahyl ]

noun

1. Swimming.
   1. a competition in which any of the standard strokes may be used, according to the swimmer's choice.
   2. the crawl.
2. Wrestling. a style of wrestling in which the contestants are permitted to trip, tackle, and use holds below the waist.
3. a sports performance or routine featuring relatively free, unrestricted movement, or intended to demonstrate an individual's special skills or style, such as in figure skating, gymnastics, surfing, or skateboarding.
4. 1. Also called freestyle rap,. a style of rap in which the topic, rhymes, and rhythm are improvised:

      Her first breakout rap album was all freestyle.

   2. a rap that is improvised throughout:

      He's known for his freestyles.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to perform a rap in which the topic, rhymes, and rhythms are improvised:

   Believe it or not, she’s freestyling all this.

freestyle

/ ˈfriːˌstaɪl /

noun

1. a competition or race, as in swimming, in which each participant may use a style of his or her choice instead of a specified style
2. 1. an amateur style of wrestling with an agreed set of rules
   2. Also calledall-in wrestling a style of professional wrestling with no internationally agreed set of rules
3. a series of acrobatics performed in skiing, etc
4. ( as modifier )

   a freestyle event

Other Word Forms

• free·styl·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of freestyle¹

First recorded in 1930–35; free + style

Example Sentences

Swimming will feature six more medal opportunities by adding men’s and women’s 50-meter events for backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly to the current 50-meter freestyle race.

From Los Angeles Times

As Lamar grins through the bright lights of his victory lap, Drake's chosen to sidestep the beef - bar one embittered freestyle denouncing fake friends - and instead focused on repositioning himself.

From BBC

"I don't mean to toot my own horn," he says, before sharing how the pair released a freestyle together on Kenny's channel in 2020.

From BBC

“I freestyle dance to rock ‘n’ roll once a week, maybe for 10 songs.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m gonna try to freestyle with your name but you have to look me in my eyes.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bathe
• crawl
• dive
• float
• glide
• paddle
• submerge
• wade