freak
freek
Freak (noun) means a person, animal, or thing that is highly unusual or abnormal. Example: “The huge snowfall in summer was a freak of the weather.”
noun
1
A person, animal, or thing that is highly unusual or abnormal.
"The huge snowfall in summer was a freak of the weather."
"A tomato shaped like a face is just a harmless freak of nature."
"The two-headed calf was a genuine freak of nature."
2
A person with an intense enthusiasm for something (informal).
"My brother is a movie freak and owns hundreds of films."
"She is a bit of a neat freak and tidies daily."
"My roommate is a total fitness freak."
verb
1
To react with sudden panic, shock, or excitement (often "freak out").
"I freaked when I thought I had lost my passport at the airport."
"She freaked out when she saw the spider."
"Don't freak out — we still have time to fix this."
adj
1
Highly unusual or unexpected.
"A freak accident on the stairs left him with a broken wrist."
"It was a freak wave that surprised everyone on the beach."
"A freak storm knocked out power across the region."
How to use freak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething bizarrely abnormal, an enthusiast for something, or (as a verb) to lose your composure suddenly.
When to use it
The verb "freak out" and noun senses like "fitness freak" are informal.
Common pairings
freak out
freak accident
freak of nature
control freak
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Word forms
- Plural
- freaks
- Third person singular
- freaks
- Past tense
- freaked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The huge snowfall in summer was a _____ of the weather.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, first appearing in English in the 1560s meaning a sudden whim; likely linked to Old English frec, "bold, eager," which drifted toward meaning something wildly out of the ordinary.
Class of 1560
freak joined the language around 1560.
See the full Class of 1560 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for freak
See all rhymes for freak →Frequently asked questions
What does “freak” mean?
The word “freak” means a person, animal, or thing that is highly unusual or abnormal. In plain terms, something bizarrely abnormal, an enthusiast for something, or (as a verb) to lose your composure suddenly.
How do you pronounce “freak”?
“Freak” is pronounced freek (/fɹiːk/ in IPA).
How do you use “freak” in a sentence?
Here is “freak” used in a sentence: “The two-headed calf was a genuine freak of nature.”
What part of speech is “freak”?
Depending on how it is used, “freak” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “freak” come from?
The word “freak” dates back to around 1560 and comes from Old English. Origin uncertain, first appearing in English in the 1560s meaning a sudden whim; likely linked to Old English frec, "bold, eager," which drifted toward meaning something wildly out of the ordinary.
Is “freak” a common word?
“Freak” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “freak” have?
“Freak” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person, animal, or thing that is highly unusual or abnormal.
Is calling someone a freak offensive?
It depends on the sense. Calling a person a freak to mean they are abnormal or strange is insulting and can be hurtful. In compounds describing enthusiasm, such as 'a fitness freak', the word is informal and usually playful rather than offensive.
What is a freak accident?
A freak accident is one that is highly unusual and unexpected — an event so unlikely that it could not reasonably have been predicted. Here 'freak' works as an adjective, as it also does in phrases like 'a freak storm' or 'a freak result'.
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