freestyle
/ˈfriː.staɪl/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A style of performance, sport, or movement with no fixed rules or set routine. It lets the person choose their own way to do it.
- She did a freestyle at the talent show.
- The swimmer won the freestyle event.
- His speech was mostly freestyle.
adjective
Done in a free, improvised way, without a fixed pattern or script.
- They gave a freestyle dance performance.
- He made a freestyle rap on stage.
- We tried a freestyle workout today.
verb
To perform, make, or express something in a free and improvised way.
- The rapper freestyled for two minutes.
- She freestyled the answer confidently.
- He freestyled the whole routine.
Adinary Nuance
Freestyle means there is no fixed pattern or script. It is close to improv and improvised, but freestyle is common in sports, dance, and rap. Use free-style only rarely; modern English usually writes it as one word. It sounds more active and performance-based than casual or unplanned.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tự do
- Spanish
- improvisado
- Chinese
- 自由式
- Japanese
- フリースタイル
- Korean
- 프리스타일
Etymology
Freestyle came into English in the early 20th century from the phrase "free style." It first described sports and later spread to music, dance, and speech.
Common phrases
freestyle rapfreestyle swimmingfreestyle dancego freestyle
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is freestyle one word or two words?
- Modern English usually writes it as one word: freestyle.
- Is freestyle formal or informal?
- It is neutral, but it is more common in sports and music than in formal writing.
- What is the difference between freestyle and improv?
- Improv is a general word for unscripted performance. Freestyle is often used for rap, dance, and sports.
- Can I say freestyle in an IELTS answer?
- Yes, if the context is sports, music, or an unscripted style.