free diver

noun

plural free divers
: a person who engages in free diving
Using just their lungs, free divers have kept going deeper and holding their breath longer than anyone expected.—John Tierney

called also skin diver

Examples of free diver in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Underwater, a world of sea life attracts divers, snorkelers, and free divers from across the globe. — AFAR Media, 28 Aug. 2025 In the vast blue of the open ocean, a free diver shares a quiet moment with a group of curious Sperm Whales. — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 7 May 2026 Determined to reinvent himself as a competitive free diver, he is drawn to the depths of the ocean as a sanctuary from his inner turmoil. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026 The women free divers descend as many as 60 feet (18 meters) multiple times a day, through pregnancy and old age, with no breathing equipment and only the aid of wet suits. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for free diver

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free diver was in 1951

Rhymes for free diver

See All Rhymes for free diver

Browse Nearby Words

free dive
free diver
free diving
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Free diver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20diver. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All