free rider

noun

One who gets a free ride on a ship, or similar; one who rides on a means of transportation gratis.

“The store failed because all of the manager's friends were free riders who drove paying customers away.”

Similar
stowawayfreeloaderbloodsuckerbludgerbummergadflyleechmooch
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Meanings

nounfree rider (plural free riders)

plural free riders

  1. One who gets a free ride on a ship, or similar; one who rides on a means of transportation gratis.

    Synonyms: stowaway

  2. broadlySomeone who obtains goods or services legally without paying.

    The store failed because all of the manager's friends were free riders who drove paying customers away.

    Synonyms: freeloader, bloodsucker, bludger, bummer, freeloader, gadfly, leech, mooch

  3. economicsOne who obtains benefit from a public good without paying for it directly.

    A lighthouse is the classic example of a public good because it is difficult to prevent a ship (a free rider) from using it.

    1 more example

    Trump also promises to attack the sources abroad that he blames for the country’s malaise: economic interdependence, transnational criminals, traditional allies he sees as free riders on America’s long-running global beneficence.

    2024 December 12, Eric Cortellessa, “Donald Trump 2024 TIME Person of the Year”, in Time, archived from the original on 22 Dec 2024
  4. industrial relationsA worker at an open shop who is able to enjoy the benefits negotiated by a union without being a member of the union.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounOne who gets a free ride on a ship, or similar; one who rides on a means of transportation gratis.

Similar
stowaway

nounSomeone who obtains goods or services legally without paying.

Similar
freeloaderbloodsuckerbludgerbummerfreeloadergadflyleechmoochmoocherparasitescroungescroungerscungesmell-feastspongespongersuckertrencher mate
Also see
bludgerbummerfreeloadergadflymoochparasitescroungerscungesmell-feastspongesucker

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 搭便車者 /搭便车者
  • 搭便車者 /搭便车者 (dā biànchē zhě)(economics) one who obtains benefit from a public good without paying for it directly
Finnish vapaamatkustaja
  • vapaamatkustaja(economics) one who obtains benefit from a public good without paying for it directly
French passager clandestin
  • passager clandestin(economics) one who obtains benefit from a public good without paying for it directly
Italian portoghese
  • portoghese(economics) one who obtains benefit from a public good without paying for it directly
Polish but see pasożyt
  • but see pasożyt(economics) one who obtains benefit from a public good without paying for it directly
Cite this entry
APA

free rider. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/free%20rider

MLA

“free rider.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/free%20rider. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “free rider,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/free%20rider.

Source: free rider on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.