freeborn

adjective

free·​born ˈfrē-ˈbȯrn How to pronounce freeborn (audio)
1
: not born in vassalage or slavery
2
: of, relating to, or befitting one that is freeborn

Examples of freeborn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The site will also showcase regional heroes of the Underground Railroad, including the work of Smith, a freeborn woman with African American heritage who spent 21 years of her life as Stevens’ house manager and confidante (and, some speculate, his common-law wife). Tracy Schorn, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2023 Phalanx warfare was so common in ancient Greece that most freeborn males took part in it many times. James Romm, The New York Review of Books, 23 Sep. 2021 Phalanx warfare was so common in ancient Greece that most freeborn males took part in it many times. James Romm, The New York Review of Books, 23 Sep. 2021 Robert—a man born in Africa, enslaved in America, and now a free farmer—and his freeborn African-American herbalist wife, Mary, had worked diligently to ensure this security for themselves and their children. Janet Barber, Scientific American, 9 Nov. 2021 Phalanx warfare was so common in ancient Greece that most freeborn males took part in it many times. James Romm, The New York Review of Books, 23 Sep. 2021 Phalanx warfare was so common in ancient Greece that most freeborn males took part in it many times. James Romm, The New York Review of Books, 23 Sep. 2021 Phalanx warfare was so common in ancient Greece that most freeborn males took part in it many times. James Romm, The New York Review of Books, 23 Sep. 2021 Phalanx warfare was so common in ancient Greece that most freeborn males took part in it many times. James Romm, The New York Review of Books, 23 Sep. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of freeborn was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Freeborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freeborn. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

freeborn

adjective
free·​born ˈfrē-ˈbȯrn How to pronounce freeborn (audio)
: not born in slavery

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