freebie
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /frˈiːbi/
US
- /ˈfribi/
Description
- giveaway
- little extra at no cost
- bonus item
- promotional gift
- something you get for free
A "freebie" is a small thing you get without paying for it, often as a little extra. It might be a sample in a store, a pen handed out at an event, or an extra item added to your order. Companies use freebies to attract customers, but the word can also be used in everyday life. A friend might toss in a homemade cookie or give you an extra sticker, and you could call that a freebie too. The idea is usually that it is something extra, useful, or pleasant that comes at no cost.
The word "freebie" refers to something given without charge, usually as a small extra. Most often, it is a physical item such as a sample, a giveaway, or a bonus product that comes with a purchase. It can also refer to a service or digital item offered at no cost, such as a short trial, a free download, or a quick consultation. The tone of the word is informal and friendly, and it often suggests that the thing is a pleasant extra rather than a formal gift.
People often use the word in shopping, advertising, and everyday conversation. A store may include a sample with your order, a company may hand out branded pens at an event, or a website may offer a downloadable guide as a freebie. In daily life, the word can be used more loosely too. If someone gives you an extra cookie, an extra ticket, or some spare supplies and does not ask for money, you might casually call it a freebie.
A freebie is usually seen as a bonus. It is not normally the main thing being offered; it is the extra part that makes the offer feel better. Because of that, the word often carries a sense of surprise, convenience, or simple pleasure. In short, it describes something you receive for free, especially when it feels like a small added benefit.
Examples
- 1
Event bonus
Every concert ticket came with a freebie from the snack stand.
- 2
Trade show
The company was handing out freebies at the trade show.
- 3
Purchase offer
Buy a laptop this week and they'll throw in a freebie case.
Phrase
throw in
add something extra
- 4
Free samples
I took a few samples, but I wasn't there just for the freebies.
- 5
Unexpected time
With the meeting canceled, the whole afternoon felt like a freebie.
Phrase
felt like a freebie
felt like extra time or value you did not expect
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- freebienoun
Forms
- freebiespluralnoun