free agency
In professional sport, the status of a player whose contract has ended and who is free to negotiate with other teams.
Definition
Free agency is a term from professional sports in which a player is not under contract and may sign with any team, subject to league rules. Leagues differ in who qualifies, when the period occurs and what restrictions or compensation apply. The word is often used more loosely to mean being unattached and able to choose. It is unrelated to commercial agencies except through the word agent, since players typically hire agents to negotiate their deals. The expression is also used in everyday language for freelancers who work without a long-term employer, which is a different but related idea.
In a sentence
The pitcher entered free agency after his contract expired.
Teams compete for players during the free agency period.
Common mix-up
Free agency here refers to being a player without a contract, not to any type of agency business.
