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freethinker

freethinker

5 7.1
A person who forms their own views about religion and ideas using reason and facts
  • noun
  • /ˈfriːˌθɪŋkər/
translation icon : librepensador
  • The rally was advertised as the largest ever gathering of atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, and other assorted faithless folks.
  • freethinker and humanist
  • freethinkers and atheists

Examples

  • Well, she's quite intelligent, and she's a freethinker, like you.

  • Yes, there is still far too much prejudice against freethinkers of all stripes.

    Academic text (2011)
  • In those days, many freethinkers were involved in educational issues.

    Academic text (2010)
  • I'm going to share a little bit about the only freethinker convention I've ever been to.

    Blog text (32)
  • There will always be freethinkers and heretics... unless we deal with the root of the problem.

  • Even professed freethinkers and atheists would most likely have attended religious services as children.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Humanists and freethinkers, of all people, should have the consistency and bravery to say so.

    Academic text (1999)
  • But while freethinkers are often agnostics or atheists, there have been many freethinkers of faith as well.

    Blog text (2)
  • In fact, Clemens Vonnegut founded the Freethinkers Society of Indianapolis in 1870 and served as president of the organization for many years.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Many freethinkers advocate for science and reason over dogma in their discussions about faith.

Synonyms

skeptic
vsfreethinker
  • US
77 4.1

A person who often doubts accepted ideas and asks for proof

forms conclusions positively from evidence rather than only doubting claims
doubter
vsfreethinker
19 4.2

A person who does not believe something is true or is unsure about it

forms opinions actively using reason and evidence not mere uncertainty
rationalist
vsfreethinker
3 7.0

A person who trusts reason and observable facts, not supernatural explanations

forms views from reason and evidence rather than following authority

Antonyms

Holding strongly to old customs and resisting change

2 5.7

A person who follows rules and usual ways instead of trying new ideas

How Independent

freethinker
5 7.1
conformist
2 5.7

Surface Forms

freethinker singular
freethinkers plural

Morphology

freethinker = free + thinker (transparent) = free + think + er

Clear compound of 'free' + 'thinker' meaning a person who thinks independently; components and agentive '-er' give a directly derivable meaning.

Etymology

Freethinker is built from free ('not controlled') and think ('to form ideas'). A freethinker is someone whose ideas are 'free' from tradition or authority, so they form opinions by reason and evidence rather than by accepted belief.