Standard Lemma guide

unfettered

adj · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ʌnˈfɛtəd/
  • US: /ˈʌnˈfɛtɚd/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 N F EH1 T ER0 D Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Not bound by chains or shackles.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: unmanacled, unhandcuffed

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fetterless, unshackled, shackleless, unchained, unmanacled, unhandcuffed

Antonyms: fettered

Broader terms: unbound, free

2

adj

Meaning 2

Not restricted.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fetterless, untrammeled, unconstrained, unrestrained, unrestricted, unbridled, unbound, free

Antonyms: fettered

3

verb

Meaning 3

simple past and past participle of unfetter

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, participle, past

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

not bound by shackles and chains

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unchained, unshackled, untied

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English fettered English unfettered From un- + fettered.

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: nespoutaný — not bound by chains
  • Dutch: ongebonden — not bound by chains
  • Finnish: kahlitsematon — not bound by chains
  • German: entfesselt — not bound by chains
  • German: frei — not bound by chains
  • Polish: nieskrępowany — not bound by chains
  • Russian: освобождённый (osvoboždjónnyj) — not bound by chains
  • Spanish: desencadenado — not bound by chains
  • Dutch: onbeperkt — not restricted
  • Finnish: kahlitsematon — not restricted
  • Finnish: vapaa — not restricted
  • German: ungehindert — not restricted
  • German: ungezügelt — not restricted
  • Korean: 자유롭다 (jayurobda) — not restricted
  • Polish: nieskrępowany — not restricted
  • Polish: nieograniczony — not restricted
  • Russian: нестеснённый (nestesnjónnyj) — not restricted
  • Spanish: irrestricto — not restricted
  • Spanish: libre — not restricted
  • Spanish: sin restricciones — not restricted
  • Spanish: sin trabas — not restricted