[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/unfree/)

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# unfree

adjective (unfree)

«unfree» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unfree/#m1)
2. (formal) Unfree can also describe a country or society where people lack basic rights and freedoms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unfree/#m2)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unfree/#x1)
- Enslaved people were unfree and forced to work without pay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unfree/#x2)
- Convicts in early Australia were unfree workers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unfree/#x3)
- In an unfree country people cannot say what they think. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unfree/#x4)
- Historians study unfree labour across the world. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unfree/#x5)
- The prisoners felt unfree behind the high walls. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unfree/#x6)

### Note

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

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «unfree» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/unfree/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«unfree» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/unfree.html) on Mova free.