What does freethinking mean?
Freethinking refers to the practice of forming opinions and beliefs on the basis of one's own reason and evidence rather than accepting them from established authority, tradition, or religious doctrine. It emerged as a self-conscious intellectual stance during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when thinkers who questioned church orthodoxy became known as freethinkers, and the term remains closely tied to religious skepticism today. Beyond that historical core, freethinking is used more generally to praise independence of mind in science, politics, and the arts — the willingness to challenge received wisdom rather than follow the crowd. The word carries a largely positive connotation in contemporary usage, suggesting courage and intellectual honesty, though it once implied irreligion and social danger. Related forms include freethinker, the person who thinks this way, and the adjective freethinking, describing attitudes or works marked by such independence.
The attitude or practice of forming beliefs and opinions independently of authority, tradition, or dogma, especially in matters of religion.
"His freethinking put him at odds with the religious establishment of his day."
Often capitalized in older texts as part of the organized freethought movement; modern usage favors lowercase.
Characterized by or disposed to independent thought and resistance to conventional authority.
"She came from a freethinking family that encouraged debate on every subject."
Freethinking is almost always used as an uncountable mass noun; a plural form is rare and generally unnecessary.
"Rarely seen: the journal published the freethinkings of several controversial writers."
Freethinking was once so radical that calling yourself a 'freethinker' could cost you your reputation — and sometimes far more.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of freethinking
Freethinking arose in English in the late seventeenth century as a compound of 'free' and 'thinking', directly reflecting its meaning: thought unconstrained by authority. It became prominent through the freethought movement, whose adherents — known from around this period as freethinkers — questioned religious orthodoxy on rationalist grounds during and after the Enlightenment. The word's components are both native Germanic roots, with 'free' deriving from Old English 'frēo' and 'thinking' rooted in Old English 'þencan'. Its cognates include the closely related 'freethinker' and, more loosely, other compounds built on 'free' such as 'freewill'.
Related word forms
How freethinking is actually used
Freethinking is most strongly associated with religious skepticism, where it functions as a near-synonym for free thought, but it is also used more broadly for independent-mindedness in politics, science, and the arts. It carries a broadly positive connotation in modern usage, though historically it was often used pejoratively to imply irreligion or moral danger. The adjective use (e.g., 'a freethinking artist') is well established.
Easily confused with freethinking
A freethinker is the person who holds such independent views, while freethinking is the practice or attitude itself.
'Freethinking' is not an established English word; the correct form is 'freethinking', though the two are sometimes confused in spelling.