Meaning & use
free will
The power to make choices that are not determined by fate, God, or prior causes.
See it in a sentence
Philosophers have long debated whether humans truly have free will or only the illusion of it.
The doctrine holds that people act by their own free will rather than by divine compulsion.
A note on using this word
Free will is central to long-running debates in philosophy and theology about moral responsibility and predestination.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “free will”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.