Free or three?
free is an adjective meaning “Unconstrained”; three is a number meaning “A numerical value equal to 3; the number following two and preceding four”. Use free as an adjective and three as a number. In written English (wordfreq, 2021 data) three is about as common as free.
What is the difference between free and three?
| free | three | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | adjective, adverb, verb, noun, number, suffix | number, noun |
| Meaning | Unconstrained Not imprisoned or enslaved Without needing to pay | A numerical value equal to 3; the number following two and preceding four Describing a set or group with three elements The digit/figure 3 |
| Example | He was given free rein to do whatever he wanted | Put all the threes in a separate container |
| Forms | freer, freest | free, tree, t'ree |
| Pronunciation | /fɹiː/ [fɹɪi̯] /fɹɪj/ | /θɹɪj/ /θɹiː/ [θɾ̪̊iː] |
| In writing | 427 times per million words | 603 times per million words |
Sources: free and three in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of free and three
free
- 1
Unconstrained
He was given free rein to do whatever he wanted
- 2
Without needing to pay
I got this bike free
- 3
To make free; set at liberty; release
- 4
Abbreviation of free kick
Whether deserved or not, the free gave Cresswell the chance to cover himself in glory with a shot on goal after the siren
- 5
colloquialPronunciation spelling of three
- 6
Free from; devoid of; without
- 7
Not imprisoned or enslaved
Free Blacks
- 8
To rid of something that confines or oppresses
three
- 1
A numerical value equal to 3; the number following two and preceding four
- 2
The digit/figure 3
- 3
Describing a set or group with three elements
- 4
Anything measuring three units, as length
Put all the threes in a separate container
- 5
A person who is three years old
All the threes will go in Mrs. Smith's class, while I'll take the fours and fives
- 6
The playing card featuring three pips
- 7
Three o'clock, either a.m. or p.m
- 8
Abbreviation of three-pointer
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, free or three?
free appears 427 times per million words; three 603 times per million words.
free 427 times per million wordsthree 603 times per million words
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).