free agent

noun

: a professional athlete (such as a baseball player) who is free to negotiate a contract with any team
free agency noun

Examples of free agent 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.
When Happ, a free agent after the season, has gotten right-handed at-bats this year, opposing left-handers are giving him a heavy dose of offspeed stuff. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 The New York Jets, who waived Eric Watts earlier this month, signed defensive end Nathan Voorhis as an undrafted free agent. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026 Pete, signed as an undrafted free agent after the NFL Draft in April, is the first player in NFL history to represent the Navajo Nation — a Native American reservation with a large faction of representatives in the southwest United States. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2026 Taking his place is Ralston, a 29-year-old righty who signed with Miami as a minor-league free agent over the offseason and has dominated in the minor leagues this season. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for free agent

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free agent was in 1955

Rhymes for free agent

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Browse Nearby Words

free
free agent
free air
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Cite this Entry

“Free agent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20agent. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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