free charge
B1Neutral to informal in commercial contexts; technical in scientific contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A situation where no payment is required; something provided without cost.
Can refer to complimentary services, promotional offers, or the absence of financial obligation. In physics/engineering, refers to an electrical charge that is not bound or is available to move.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most commonly used as a noun phrase ('at no charge', 'free of charge'). The adverbial form 'free of charge' is more formal than simply 'free'. In technical contexts, the meaning diverges completely.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Free of charge' is slightly more common in formal British English. Americans may use 'complimentary' or 'on the house' more frequently in service contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can imply a temporary promotion or a benefit. In the UK, it might be associated with public services (e.g., NHS); in the US, with customer loyalty programs.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English in official communications.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + free charge (e.g., provide, offer, include)be + free chargefree charge + NOUN (e.g., free charge delivery)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “free of charge”
- “on the house”
- “for free”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing and customer service to denote promotional offers or included services. 'Repairs are provided free charge under warranty.'
Academic
Rare. May appear in economics discussing free goods, or in physics discussing particles.
Everyday
Common in transactions, offers, and hospitality. 'The hotel shuttle is free charge for guests.'
Technical
In physics/engineering: 'The experiment measured the movement of free charge carriers in the semiconductor.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council will free charge residents for the first garden waste collection.
American English
- The company will free charge customers for shipping during the holiday sale.
adverb
British English
- The software can be downloaded free charge from their website.
American English
- We'll install the update free charge if you bring in your device.
adjective
British English
- They offer a free-charge consultation to new clients.
American English
- Attendees receive free-charge parking in the adjacent garage.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The water at the restaurant is free charge.
- Children under five travel free charge.
- The museum offers entry free charge on the first Sunday of the month.
- I got the app free charge as part of a promotion.
- Despite the premium price, the product did not include free charge technical support.
- The seminar is free charge, but you must register in advance due to limited space.
- The charity provides legal advice free charge to those who cannot afford it.
- In a conductor, an applied electric field causes the free charges to move, creating a current.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'FREE' bird (no cost) being released by a 'CHARGE' (soldier/officer). The officer isn't charging you for the bird.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION IS A BURDEN (to be 'free of charge' is to be relieved of this burden).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'свободный заряд' for the financial meaning. Use 'бесплатно'.
- The technical physics term 'свободный заряд' is a correct translation for the scientific meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'free charge' as an adjective before a noun without 'of' (e.g., 'free charge ticket' is unnatural; prefer 'free ticket' or 'ticket free of charge').
- Confusing the financial and electrical meanings in context.
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'free charge' have a COMPLETELY different meaning?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In meaning, yes. 'Free of charge' is the full, slightly more formal adverbial phrase. 'Free charge' often functions as a noun phrase or a compound modifier.
In most everyday contexts, 'free' alone is simpler and more common (e.g., 'free water'). 'Free (of) charge' is often used for emphasis or in formal writing to avoid ambiguity with other meanings of 'free' (e.g., liberated).
The direct opposite is 'chargeable' or 'subject to a charge'. In simple terms, 'paid' or 'not free'.
Yes, but with a different meaning unrelated to cost. In physics and engineering, it refers to an electric charge that is not bound to an atom or molecule and is free to move, as in 'free charge carriers' like electrons in a metal.