unfree

Everyday

1. Unfree means not free; not allowed to choose how you live, work or move, such as a slave, a serf or a prisoner. tree →
2. (formal) Unfree can also describe a country or society where people lack basic rights and freedoms. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons: unfree labour, serfs in medieval times, enslaved people, convicts sent to Australia. In citizenship lessons: free and unfree countries, freedom of speech and voting. It is a formal, rather rare word; people usually say «not free».

Examples

• Medieval serfs were unfree and could not leave their lord's land. tree →
• Enslaved people were unfree and forced to work without pay. tree →
• Convicts in early Australia were unfree workers. tree →
• In an unfree country people cannot say what they think. tree →
• Historians study unfree labour across the world. tree →
• The prisoners felt unfree behind the high walls. tree →

Note

Formal and uncommon. Opposite: «free». The noun is «unfreedom» (rare); usually «lack of freedom».