free love: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Historical, Social, Literary, Journalistic, sometimes Informal/Pejorative
Quick answer
What does “free love” mean?
A social movement or belief advocating that sexual relations should not be regulated by marriage, law, or other social restrictions, but should be based solely on mutual consent and affection.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A social movement or belief advocating that sexual relations should not be regulated by marriage, law, or other social restrictions, but should be based solely on mutual consent and affection.
Historically, it refers to a 19th-20th century countercultural movement challenging conventional sexual morality. Figuratively, it can sometimes be used critically to imply irresponsible or hedonistic attitudes toward relationships.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major definitional differences. The term is more strongly associated with the 1960s 'Summer of Love' in the US, whereas in the UK it is also linked to earlier movements like the Bloomsbury Group.
Connotations
Shared connotations: historical, countercultural, utopian, sometimes naïve or chaotic. Both may use it with irony or criticism.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects. Mainly used in historical, cultural, or political discussions. Slightly more contemporary ironic usage in US informal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “free love” in a Sentence
[Subject] believes in free love.The [noun] promoted a philosophy of free love.[Subject] experimented with free love.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “free love” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They aimed to free love from the shackles of Victorian morality.
American English
- The manifesto sought to free love from institutional control.
adjective
British English
- The free-love commune attracted many idealists.
- His free-love ideals were considered scandalous.
American English
- She wrote for a free-love magazine in the 1970s.
- The free-love movement had profound cultural impacts.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Might appear in media/entertainment business contexts discussing historical content.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, gender studies, or literature papers discussing countercultural movements.
Everyday
Rare. Used in discussions about history, older generations, or critically about someone's lifestyle.
Technical
Not a technical term. Used descriptively in social sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “free love”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “free love”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “free love”
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a free-love relationship' is possible but very marked; 'open relationship' is more common).
- Using it to refer to modern polyamory without historical awareness.
- Treating it as a plural countable noun (e.g., 'free loves').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not exactly. 'Free love' is a broad historical and ideological term advocating for sexual relations free from social institutions. 'Polyamory' is a more specific, contemporary term for consensually having multiple romantic/sexual partners, often with an emphasis on structure and communication. 'Free love' can be seen as a precursor or a related ideological concept.
It would sound archaic, politically loaded, or ironic. Using it today might imply you align with a specific historical movement. Terms like 'open relationship', 'ethical non-monogamy', or 'polyamory' are more precise and contemporary for personal descriptions.
It is highly contextual. In historical or sympathetic discussions, it can be neutral or positive, denoting liberation. In conservative or critical discourse, it often carries negative connotations of irresponsibility, promiscuity, or social chaos. Tone and context dictate its valence.
The phrase consists of two very common words, 'free' and 'love', whose standard pronunciations are virtually identical in both major dialects (/friː/ and /lʌv/). Any potential minor accent variations are not reflected in standard, dictionary IPA transcriptions for this compound.
A social movement or belief advocating that sexual relations should not be regulated by marriage, law, or other social restrictions, but should be based solely on mutual consent and affection.
Free love is usually historical, social, literary, journalistic, sometimes informal/pejorative in register.
Free love: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfriː ˈlʌv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfriː ˈlʌv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(A child of) the Summer of Love (historical reference)”
- “The gospel of free love (pejorative)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'FREE' (no cost) 'LOVE' sticker from the 1960s — it represents the idea that love should be freely given without societal cost or restrictions.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOVE IS A COMMODITY / SOCIAL CONTRACT (which the term seeks to make 'free' from regulation).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'free love' MOST appropriately used?