unfettered
un-FET-erd
/ʌnˈfɛtəd/
Restrained or uninhibited; released from physical or metaphorical shackles.
Carries a poetic or dramatic tone, often used for 'unfettered access' or 'unfettered greed'.
The story behind the word. A 'fetter' is an Old English word for a chain or shackle placed on the feet (related to the word 'foot'). To be unfettered is to have your feet freed so you can walk.
Word relationships
- unconstrained: Unfettered specifically evokes the image of removing chains (fetters).
- shackled: Shackled implies being physically or metaphorically bound by chains.
Commonly confused with
- unburdened: Unburdened means free from a heavy weight; unfettered means free from a restraint.
Word family
- fetter (noun/verb): A chain or shackle; to restrain.
Collocations
- unfettered access
- unfettered competition
- unfettered imagination
Example sentences
- "The CEO was given unfettered access to the company's financial records." Business
- "His mind, unfettered by the prejudices of his time, saw the truth clearly." Literature
Memory hook
Un-fettered = Un-feet-ered. Your feet are free to move. No chains.
When not to use
Too dramatic for simple freedoms like 'I am free this weekend'.
Fun facts
- The word 'fetter' shares a common ancestor with the Latin 'pes' (foot).
Related words
Explore more words
uninhibited, unruffled, permissive, uncharted, freedom, unfeigned
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.