free·wheel
ˈfrē-ˈ(h)wēl 
: a clutch fitted in the rear hub of a bicycle that permits the rear wheel to run on free from the rear sprocket when the pedals are stopped
freewheeled; freewheeling; freewheels
1
: to roll along freely independent of a gear
2
: to move, live, or play freely or irresponsibly
freewheeler
noun
Examples of freewheel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
John Timmer, Ars Technica, 10 Nov. 2018
Jackie Mader, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2024
One of the strongest rebukes of the freewheeling council members came from the second Mayor Carter Harrison, whose father of the same name was assassinated as mayor in 1893.
—Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for freewheel 
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.
Noun
On the other side, the spokes meet the axle slightly off-center, while the gears (and the freewheel that allows them to rotate freely in only one direction) take up the space between there and the frame.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 10 Nov. 2018
Verb
Parents who have immigrated to Norway sometimes struggle to accept the freewheeling Norwegian approach to child care, expecting more academics or structure, even for their youngest.
—Jackie Mader, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2024
One of the strongest rebukes of the freewheeling council members came from the second Mayor Carter Harrison, whose father of the same name was assassinated as mayor in 1893.
—Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for freewheel
Dictionary Entries Near freewheel
Cite this Entry
“Freewheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freewheel. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share