Free vs. Priceless — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 28, 2024
"Free" implies no monetary cost is required to acquire or access something, while "priceless" suggests something is so valuable that its worth cannot be quantified in monetary terms.
Difference Between Free and Priceless
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Free" is used to describe goods or services that are offered without any charge, emphasizing accessibility and cost-effectiveness, whereas "priceless" refers to items or experiences of such immense value or uniqueness that they transcend typical financial evaluation.
Free items or services are often promotional, intended to attract customers or provide samples, which can lead to broader exposure or future sales. On the other hand, priceless items are typically irreplaceable and cherished, such as heirlooms, art, or personal achievements, holding sentimental or cultural significance.
While free can also mean liberation from constraints or confinement, like free speech or free time, emphasizing the absence of restrictions, priceless often describes emotional or aesthetic value that is considered invaluable, such as love or natural beauty.
In economic terms, a free product might be used as a part of a strategy to enter a market or gain consumer loyalty, while a priceless artifact, like a historical relic, is preserved and protected due to its cultural and educational importance.
Though both terms suggest a lack of financial burden, their contexts differ greatly: "free" is practical and often temporary, related to specific marketing or social strategies; "priceless," however, conveys a lasting esteem and irreplaceable status, often leading to enduring reverence or awe.
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Comparison Chart
Meaning
No monetary cost to acquire
Beyond monetary valuation
Context
Often promotional or accessible
Unique or of immense significance
Implications
Cost-effective, accessible
Invaluable, irreplaceable
Usage
Marketing, services, liberation
Art, heirlooms, personal values
Value
Economical or utilitarian
Emotional, cultural, historical
Compare with Definitions
Free
Unoccupied or not in use.
The seat next to her was free.
Priceless
Rare and not replicable.
A priceless artifact was discovered in the old ruins.
Free
Not costing any money.
Admission to the museum is free this weekend.
Priceless
So valuable that its price is incalculable.
The painting is priceless and cannot be sold.
Free
Not attached or confined.
The bird was finally free from the cage.
Priceless
Exceptional quality that cannot be quantified.
Her priceless reaction to the surprise was captured in the video.
Free
Not under any control or restraint.
He felt free after quitting his job.
Priceless
Of great sentimental worth.
The memories from their family trip are priceless.
Free
Given without consideration of a return or reward.
Volunteers provide their services for free.
Priceless
Beyond any monetary value.
The view from the mountain summit is truly priceless.
Free
Able to act or be done as one wishes; not under the control of another
I have no ambitions other than to have a happy life and be free
A free choice
Priceless
So precious that its value cannot be determined
Priceless works of art
Free
Not or no longer confined or imprisoned
Police were forced to let him walk free
The researchers set the birds free
Priceless
Very amusing
Darling, you're priceless!
Free
Not subject to engagements or obligations
She spent her free time shopping
Priceless
Of inestimable worth; invaluable.
Free
Not subject to or affected by (something undesirable)
Our salsas are free of preservatives
Priceless
Highly amusing, absurd, or odd
A priceless remark.
Free
Given or available without charge
Free health care
Priceless
So precious as not to be sold at any price; invaluable.
Free
Using or expending something without restraint; lavish
She was always free with her money
Priceless
Treasured; held in high regard.
Free
(of literature or music) not observing the normal conventions of style or form.
Priceless
Excellent, wonderful, fantastic.
Free
(of the wind) blowing from a favourable direction to the side or aft of a vessel.
Priceless
(informal) Ridiculous, absurd, rich.
Free
Without cost or payment
Ladies were admitted free
Priceless
(informal) Very amusing, hilarious.
Free
With the sheets eased
I kept her off the wind and sailing free until I had all square forward
Priceless
(obsolete) Of no value; worthless.
Free
Release from confinement or slavery
They were freed from jail
Priceless
Without a price assigned.
Free
Remove something undesirable or restrictive from
His inheritance freed him from financial constraints
Free your body of excess tension
Priceless
Too valuable to admit of being appraised; of inestimable worth; invaluable.
Free
Make available for a particular purpose
We are freeing management time for alternative work
Priceless
Of no value; worthless.
Free
Not imprisoned or confined
Walked out of prison a free man.
Set the birds free.
Priceless
Having incalculable monetary worth
Free
Not controlled by obligation or the will of another
Felt free to go.
Free
Not controlled by another country or political power; independent
A free nation.
Free
Governed by consent and possessing or granting civil liberties
A free citizenry.
Free
Not subject to arbitrary interference by a government
A free press.
Free
Not enslaved.
Free
Not affected or restricted by a given condition or circumstance
A healthy animal, free of disease.
People free from need.
Free
Not subject to a given condition; exempt
Income that is free of all taxes.
Free
Not bound by convention or the rules of form
A free artistic style.
Free
Not literal or exact
A free translation.
Free
Costing nothing; gratuitous
A free meal.
Free
Publicly supported
Free education.
Free
Unobstructed; clear
A free lane on the highway.
Free
Not occupied or used
A free locker.
Free energy.
Free
Not taken up by scheduled activities
Free time between classes.
Free
Immoderate in giving or spending; liberal or lavish
Tourists who are free with their money.
Free
Frank or unguarded in expression or manner; open or outspoken
She is very free with her opinions.
Free
Given, made, or done of one's own accord; voluntary or spontaneous
A free act of the will.
Free choices.
Free
Unconstrained; unconfined
Free expansion.
Free
Not fixed in position; capable of relatively unrestricted motion
A free electron.
Free
Not chemically bound in a molecule
Free oxygen.
Free
Involving no collisions or interactions
A free path.
Free
Empty or unoccupied
A free space.
An atom with a free energy level.
Free
(Nautical) Favorable
A free wind.
Free
Not bound, fastened, or attached
The free end of a chain.
Free
Being a form, especially a morpheme, that can stand as an independent word, such as boat or bring.
Free
Being a vowel in an open syllable, as the o in go.
Free
In a free manner; without restraint.
Free
Without charge.
Free
To make free, as from confinement or oppression
Freed the slaves.
Free
To relieve of a burden, obligation, or restraint
A people who were at last freed from fear.
Free
To remove obstructions or entanglements from; clear
Free a path through the jungle.
Free
To make available
Canceling the program freed up money for the new library.
Free
Freestyle.
Free
(social) Unconstrained.
He was given free rein to do whatever he wanted.
Free
Not imprisoned or enslaved.
A free man
Free
Unconstrained by timidity or distrust
Free
Generous; liberal.
He's very free with his money.
Free
(obsolete) Clear of offence or crime; guiltless; innocent.
Free
Without obligations.
Free time
Free
Thrown open, or made accessible, to all; to be enjoyed without limitations; unrestricted; not obstructed, engrossed, or appropriated; open; said of a thing to be possessed or enjoyed.
A free school
Free
Not arbitrary or despotic; assuring liberty; defending individual rights against encroachment by any person or class; instituted by a free people; said of a government, institutions, etc.
This is a free country.
Free
(software) With no or only freedom-preserving limitations on distribution or modification.
OpenOffice is free software.
Free
(software) Intended for release, as opposed to a checked version.
Free
Obtainable without any payment.
The government provides free health care.
It's free real estate.
Free
Complimentary
Buy a TV to get a free DVD player!
Free
(abstract) Unconstrained.
Free
(mathematics) Unconstrained by relators.
The free group on three generators
Free
Unconstrained by quantifiers.
is the free variable in .
Free
(programming) Unconstrained of identifiers, not bound.
Free
(linguistics) of a morpheme That can be used by itself, unattached to another morpheme.
Free
(physical) Unconstrained.
Free
Unobstructed, without blockages.
The drain was free
Free
Unattached or uncombined.
A free radical
Free
Not currently in use; not taken; unoccupied.
You can sit on this chair; it's free.
Free
Not attached; loose.
In this group of mushrooms, the gills are free.
Free
(military) Of a rocket or missile: not under the control of a guidance system after being launched.
Free
Without; not containing (what is specified); exempt; clear; liberated.
We had a wholesome, filling meal, free of meat.
I would like to live free from care in the mountains.
Free
(dated) Ready; eager; acting without spurring or whipping; spirited.
A free horse
Free
(dated) Invested with a particular freedom or franchise; enjoying certain immunities or privileges; admitted to special rights; followed by of.
Free
Certain or honourable; the opposite of base.
Free service;
Free socage
Free
(legal) Privileged or individual; the opposite of common.
A free fishery;
A free warren
Free
Without needing to pay.
I got this bike free.
Free
(obsolete) Freely; willingly.
Free
(transitive) To make free; set at liberty; release.
Free
(transitive) To rid of something that confines or oppresses.
Free
To relinquish (previously allocated memory) to the system.
Free
Abbreviation of free kick
Free
(association football) A free transfer.
Free
(hurling) The usual means of restarting play after a foul is committed, where the non-offending team restarts from where the foul was committed.
Free
Abbreviation of freestyle
The team won the 200 meters free relay.
Free
Exempt from subjection to the will of others; not under restraint, control, or compulsion; able to follow one's own impulses, desires, or inclinations; determining one's own course of action; not dependent; at liberty.
That which has the power, or not the power, to operate, is that alone which is or is not free.
Free
Not under an arbitrary or despotic government; subject only to fixed laws regularly and fairly administered, and defended by them from encroachments upon natural or acquired rights; enjoying political liberty.
Free
Liberated, by arriving at a certain age, from the control of parents, guardian, or master.
Free
Not confined or imprisoned; released from arrest; liberated; at liberty to go.
Set an unhappy prisoner free.
Free
Not subjected to the laws of physical necessity; capable of voluntary activity; endowed with moral liberty; - said of the will.
Not free, what proof could they have given sincereOf true allegiance, constant faith, or love.
Free
Clear of offense or crime; guiltless; innocent.
My hands are guilty, but my heart is free.
Free
Unconstrained by timidity or distrust; unreserved; ingenuous; frank; familiar; communicative.
He was free only with a few.
Free
Unrestrained; immoderate; lavish; licentious; - used in a bad sense.
The critics have been very free in their censures.
A man may live a free life as to wine or women.
Free
Not close or parsimonious; liberal; open-handed; lavish; as, free with his money.
Free
Exempt; clear; released; liberated; not encumbered or troubled with; as, free from pain; free from a burden; - followed by from, or, rarely, by of.
Princes declaring themselves free from the obligations of their treaties.
Free
Characteristic of one acting without restraint; charming; easy.
Free
Ready; eager; acting without spurring or whipping; spirited; as, a free horse.
Free
Invested with a particular freedom or franchise; enjoying certain immunities or privileges; admitted to special rights; - followed by of.
He therefore makes all birds, of every sect,Free of his farm.
Free
Thrown open, or made accessible, to all; to be enjoyed without limitations; unrestricted; not obstructed, engrossed, or appropriated; open; - said of a thing to be possessed or enjoyed; as, a free school.
Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as freeFor me as for you?
Free
Not gained by importunity or purchase; gratuitous; spontaneous; as, free admission; a free gift.
Free
Not arbitrary or despotic; assuring liberty; defending individual rights against encroachment by any person or class; instituted by a free people; - said of a government, institutions, etc.
Free
Certain or honorable; the opposite of base; as, free service; free socage.
Free
Privileged or individual; the opposite of common; as, a free fishery; a free warren.
Free
Not united or combined with anything else; separated; dissevered; unattached; at liberty to escape; as, free carbonic acid gas; free cells.
Free
Freely; willingly.
I as free forgive youAs I would be forgiven.
Free
Without charge; as, children admitted free.
Free
To make free; to set at liberty; to rid of that which confines, limits, embarrasses, oppresses, etc.; to release; to disengage; to clear; - followed by from, and sometimes by off; as, to free a captive or a slave; to be freed of these inconveniences.
Our land is from the rage of tigers freed.
Arise, . . . free thy people from their yoke.
Free
To remove, as something that confines or bars; to relieve from the constraint of.
This master keyFrees every lock, and leads us to his person.
Free
To frank.
Free
People who are free;
The home of the free and the brave
Free
Grant freedom to; free from confinement
Free
Relieve from;
Rid the the house of pests
Free
Remove or force out from a position;
The dentist dislodged the piece of food that had been stuck under my gums
He finally could free the legs of the earthquake victim who was buried in the rubble
Free
Grant relief or an exemption from a rule or requirement to;
She exempted me from the exam
Free
Make (information) available publication;
Release the list with the names of the prisoners
Free
Free from obligations or duties
Free
Free or remove obstruction from;
Free a path across the cluttered floor
Free
Let off the hook;
I absolve you from this responsibility
Free
Part with a possession or right;
I am relinquishing my bedroom to the long-term house guest
Resign a claim to the throne
Free
Make (assets) available;
Release the holdings in the dictator's bank account
Free
Able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint;
Free enterprise
A free port
A free country
I have an hour free
Free will
Free of racism
Feel free to stay as long as you wish
A free choice
Free
Unconstrained or not chemically bound in a molecule or not fixed and capable of relatively unrestricted motion;
Free expansion
Free oxygen
A free electron
Free
Costing nothing;
Complimentary tickets
Free
Not occupied or in use;
A free locker
A free lane
Free
Not fixed in position;
The detached shutter fell on him
He pulled his arm free and ran
Free
Not held in servitude;
After the Civil War he was a free man
Free
Not taken up by scheduled activities;
A free hour between classes
Spare time on my hands
Free
Not literal;
A loose interpretation of what she had been told
A free translation of the poem
Free
Without restraint;
Cows in India are running loose
Common Curiosities
What does "priceless" mean?
Priceless describes something so valuable or unique that its worth cannot be determined by monetary means.
Can something be both free and priceless?
Yes, certain things like love or natural beauty can be considered both free and priceless due to their universal accessibility and immeasurable value.
Why are some items marketed as free?
Items are often marketed as free to attract customers, increase visibility, or promote new products and services.
What are examples of priceless items?
Priceless items can include masterpieces of art, historical artifacts, or personal items of great sentimental value.
Is "free" always beneficial?
While free offers immediate financial benefits, it may come with hidden costs or conditions, such as lower quality or promotional obligations.
How is the value of a priceless item determined?
The value of a priceless item is often determined by its cultural, historical, and emotional significance rather than its market price.
What makes an item priceless?
An item becomes priceless due to its rarity, historical importance, unmatched beauty, or deep personal significance.
What does "free" mean?
Free means that something is provided without requiring payment or under no constraints.
How do businesses benefit from offering things for free?
Businesses may benefit from offering free items by gaining customer loyalty, increasing brand exposure, and creating opportunities for future sales.
Can the concept of being free apply to non-material things?
Yes, concepts like free speech, free time, and freedom of choice relate to non-material aspects of life, emphasizing the absence of restrictions or constraints.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
