free rein

noun

: unrestricted liberty of action or decision

Examples of free rein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That history leaves her deeply skeptical that Teresa or her friends would clean up properly if given free rein of her space. Ashley Vega, People.com, 23 July 2025 Bell Labs gave me free rein to engineer new systems that would detect those extremely faint signals. Jenna Ahart, Quanta Magazine, 11 July 2025 Developers gain free rein to mine cultural data while creators remain in the dark. Virginie Berger, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 The militarization is being challenged in court and has been criticized by civil rights advocates, humanitarian aid groups and outdoor enthusiasts who object to being blocked from public lands while troops have free rein. arkansasonline.com, 5 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for free rein

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free rein was in 1635

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Cite this Entry

“Free rein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20rein. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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