Freespirited

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing a person who acts with independence and does not conform to conventional rules or expectations
2. Having a bold, autonomous outlook that resists social norms and follows one's own inclinations
3. Characterizing someone who is liberated in thought and behavior, unrestrained by custom or convention

Etymology: Free and friend come from the same ancient root. Old English "frēo" meant "free" in the sense of not enslaved, but it also carried the idea of belonging to a loved circle of kin. The "friend" connection survives in the shared sense of being among one's own people. The second half, "spirited," comes from "spirit," which passes through Latin "spiritus," meaning "breath." The link is old and physical: breath was seen as the life force, so something full of spirit was full of life and energy. Adding "-ed" turned the noun into an adjective meaning lively or vigorous. Joined together, the compound describes someone who is unconstrained by convention and who has a lively, independent temperament.

Synonyms: unconventional, independent, carefree, bohemian, nonconformist

Antonyms: conventional, inhibited, restrained, conformist