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Definition of footloose

footloose

/ˈfʊt.luːs/
foot · loose
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footloose Lexical Profile

footloose Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Able to act, travel, or live freely without ties, commitments, or responsibilities.

Example

"After graduating from college with no immediate job obligations, she spent a footloose summer backpacking across Europe."

2

Not bound to a specific geographical location because of minimal reliance on local resources or infrastructure (especially of an industry or business).

Example

"Software development is considered a footloose industry because companies can operate from almost anywhere with reliable internet access."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

footlike
footlocker
footlong
footloose
footman
footmark
footmuff

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 17th century from 'foot' and 'loose', originally meaning literally free to move one's feet without fetters, and later popularized in the 20th-century idiom 'footloose and fancy-free'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Footloose. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/footloose
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