# freestyle

Pronunciation: US say "FREE-styl" /ˈfɹiˌstaɪl/; UK

## Noun

1. The swimming stroke also commonly called the front crawl or the Australian crawl.
   - Simple: The swimming stroke that is often called the front crawl or the Australian crawl.
   - _He switched from breaststroke to freestyle for the last few laps of his morning swim._
   - _Her freestyle stroke barely disturbed the surface of the pool._
2. A competitive swimming event in which contestants may use any stroke they choose.
   - Simple: A swimming race where each swimmer can pick any stroke they want.
   - _He entered the freestyle and chose to swim the front crawl._
   - _The freestyle event closed the swimming program._
3. A form of rapping in which the emcee invents the lyrics spontaneously as they perform.
   - Simple: Rapping where the performer makes up the words on the spot instead of using written lines.
   - _A skilled emcee can sustain a freestyle for several minutes without repeating a rhyme._
   - _The judges scored each freestyle round on originality and timing._
5. Anything carried out in an improvised or unrestricted manner.
   - Simple: Anything you do in a loose, made-up way, without sticking to set rules.
   - _The presentation turned into a freestyle once the slides stopped working._
   - _His freestyle cooking rarely follows a recipe twice._
8. A style of wrestling in which any hold that won't cause injury is allowed.
   - Simple: A kind of wrestling that allows almost any hold, as long as it won't hurt the other person.
   - _She took up freestyle after years of judo._
   - _The freestyle match ended with a quick leg takedown._
9. A cross-country skiing event in which competitors may use any skiing style they choose.
   - Simple: A cross-country skiing race where each skier can use any skiing style they like.
   - _Most skiers skated their way through the freestyle._
   - _The freestyle leg followed the classic-style leg in the pursuit._
10. The cross-country skiing style more commonly known as skating.
   - Simple: A cross-country skiing style where you push your skis out to the sides like an ice skater.
   - _On groomed trails she relies on freestyle for extra speed._
   - _His freestyle stride ate up the long flat section._
11. Ellipsis of Latin freestyle, a form of electronic dance music. — Ellipsis of Latin freestyle, a form of electronic dance music.
   - Simple: Short for Latin freestyle, a type of electronic dance music. People usually drop the word 'Latin' once the music style is clear.
   - _Old-school freestyle still fills the dance floor at retro nights._
   - _The DJ blended freestyle with classic hip-hop tracks._

## Verb

4. To improvise in one's own style; to make things up on the spot.
   - Simple: To make something up as you go instead of following a plan.
   - _The comedian likes to freestyle whenever the crowd shouts out topics._
   - _She freestyled through the whole interview, never once losing her cool._
6. To improvise something in a completely unrestricted way.
   - Simple: To do something in a free, made-up way, without any fixed rules.
   - _He tends to freestyle whenever a project arrives without a clear brief._
   - _The crew freestyled until a workable plan finally emerged._
7. To improvise one's dance moves; to dance freely without set choreography.
   - Simple: To make up your dance moves as you go, dancing however you like.
   - _She loves to freestyle when no one else is around._
   - _The dancers freestyled for the final number instead of following the routine._

## Origin

Formed by combining the words "free" and "style."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/freestyle (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).