freebies

IPA/ˈfriː.bi/
KK[frˈibiz]IPA/ˈfriː.bi/

freebies — noun

  • freebiessingular
  • freebiesesplural

1. Small items or products that a business gives away for free, usually to advertis

1.nounB1
Definition

Small items or products that a business gives away for free, usually to advertise something new or to get people interested in a service.

Example

The Watanabe family filled their bags with freebies from the community health fair.

collocation: fill bags with freebies

At the gaming convention, Hamza collected freebies including keychains, posters, and discount vouchers.

collocation: collect freebies

Common collocations
  • give out freebies
  • hand out freebies
  • collect freebies
  • pick up freebies
  • get freebies
  • freebies at [event / fair / conference]
  • freebies from [company / brand / store]
Synonyms
  • giveaway

    similar in informality; often refers to a specific item given to promote something, e.g. 'a free T-shirt as a giveaway'

  • free gift

    more formal, common in advertising language ('free gift with purchase')

  • promotional item

    neutral and business-like; the most formal of the group

  • handout

    can mean a free item but often implies charity or a document distributed to a group

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

collect/pick up/get/give out + freebies

Usage Note

Freebie is most common in its plural form (freebies) when talking about promotional items in general. The singular form (a freebie) is possible but much less frequent, usually referring to one specific free item.

Common Mistakes

I bought this freebie at the store.
I got this freebie at the store.
A freebie is given for free; you cannot buy it.
The company gave me a freebie gift.
The company gave me a freebie.
Freebie already means something given for free, so adding the word 'gift' is repetitive.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Freebie, giveaway, and free gift all describe items received without payment, but they differ in context and register. Freebie is the most informal and conversational — you would say 'I picked up some freebies at the convention.' Giveaway is similar in register but places more emphasis on the act of distribution as a marketing tactic. Free gift is noticeably more formal and appears most often in retail advertising ('Receive a free gift with any purchase over $50'). Handout carries a different nuance: it can mean anything distributed freely, but often refers to charity (food handouts) or printed materials (a lecture handout). Promotional item is the most neutral and professional term, suitable for business writing. For a casual conversation about trade show merchandise, freebie or giveaway sound natural; for a company report, promotional item is a better fit.

giveaway ↗free giftpromotional itemhandout ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • freebies with purchase
  • bag of freebies
  • stack of freebies

Prepositions

Etymology

EnglishAmerican English

Freebie comes from the adjective free (meaning 'without cost') combined with the -bie suffix, which may have been influenced by the informal word 'freebee' (as in a free ride or something freely given). It first appeared in American English around the 1940s, originally used for free tickets to theater shows and other entertainment events. Over time it expanded to cover any promotional item given away to attract customers.

First known use

1923

1923, in the meaning defined above