Meanings
alternative handsfree
- not comparableNot requiring one's hands to use.
Debate has raged over whether Glass and smartglasses like it have any viable real-world use cases for consumers, or are more interesting to businesses where workers need hands-free access to information.
2014 June 24, “Google Glass go on sale in the UK for £1,000”, in The Guardian1 more example
Despite these warnings, the EU recently authorised a version of Ford’s Blue Cruise system for use on EU roads. The system requires the driver to stay in control of the vehicle, but gives the impression the vehicle is in control by allowing the driver to use the system hands-free.
2024 April 26, “US agencies investigate Tesla Autopilot and Ford Blue Cruise deaths”, in ETSC
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- Englishhands
- Proto-Indo-European*preyH-
- Proto-Indo-European*priHós
- Proto-Germanic*frijwaz
- Proto-West Germanic*friu
- Old Englishfrēo
- Englishhands-free
From hands + -free.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish sankaluuri, handsfree-puhelin
- sankaluurihands-free phone
- handsfree-puhelinhands-free phone
Polish niewymagający obsługi ręcznej, telefon głośnomówiący
- niewymagający obsługi ręcznejnot requiring one's hands to use
- telefon głośnomówiącyhands-free phone
Spanish manos libres (appositional), de manos libres
- manos libres (appositional)not requiring one's hands to use
- de manos libresnot requiring one's hands to use
- tipo manos libresnot requiring one's hands to use
- manos libreshands-free phone
Cite this entry
hands-free. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hands-free
“hands-free.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hands-free. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hands-free,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hands-free.
Source: hands-free on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.