free rein

noun

: unrestricted liberty of action or decision
The studio gave the director free rein over the movie.

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.
Sherman was offered free rein to anything from the archives in France. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 9 Oct. 2026 The balancing act — between heavy-handed restrictions and free rein — was a theme Altman returned to repeatedly in the interview. — Robert Hart, The Verge, 5 Oct. 2026 One of the lawsuits says Fox gave Hall free rein to push the Fox news team into an area he'd been repeatedly warned was off limits. — Jennifer Schmidt, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026 Odegaard, Arsenal’s captain, had free rein to roam the pitch that day, dropping deep in build-up while still having a presence in the final third. — Art De Roché, New York Times, 31 July 2026 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

Rhymes for free rein

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Browse Nearby Words

free reed
free rein
free ride
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Cite this Entry

“Free rein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20rein. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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