free market
noun
plural free markets
: an economic system in which prices are based on competition among private businesses and are not controlled or regulated by a government : a market (see market entry 1 sense 4d) operating by free competition
… the free market works best when businesses compete to provide the best services …—
Chris Tomlinson
Chris TomlinsonA free market, technically, requires no government intervention, which is why capitalists usually land on the right of the political spectrum. In America, the government regulates businesses for reasons of social welfare and public safety …, so we don't operate in a truly free market.—Carolyn Twersky
—often hyphenated when used before another nounCarolyn Twerskyfree-market competition
free-market principles
One of the basic premises of the free-market system is that actors are free to buy from or sell to a variety of other actors.—Barry C. Lynn
Barry C. LynnExamples of free market in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Early economic thinking from the late 1700s until the 1920s taught that free markets were always self-correcting, and that any government interference with the actions and transactions of private individuals and businesses would only cause harm.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2025
The free market works quite well for elite talents, thank you very much.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Trump’s onslaught of tariffs heralds a new industrial policy era in the U.S. where the government will intervene more in free markets, and companies will have less flexibility in their decision making.
—Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
It was approved in late February by the Administrative Council for Economic Defense, a federal agency under the Ministry of Justice responsible for ensuring free market competition in Brazil.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for free market
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2025
The free market works quite well for elite talents, thank you very much.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Trump’s onslaught of tariffs heralds a new industrial policy era in the U.S. where the government will intervene more in free markets, and companies will have less flexibility in their decision making.
—Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
It was approved in late February by the Administrative Council for Economic Defense, a federal agency under the Ministry of Justice responsible for ensuring free market competition in Brazil.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for free market
Cite this Entry
“Free market.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20market. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share