What is the definition of a free morpheme?

The definition of a free morpheme is accurately captured by the choice indicating it can stand alone or appears with other lexemes. Free morphemes are the basic units of meaning that do not require additional elements to convey their meaning. For instance, words such as "book," "run," or "happy" are all free morphemes because they can function independently as complete words.

In linguistic terms, free morphemes contrast with bound morphemes, which cannot stand alone and must be attached to other morphemes (for example, prefixes like "un-" or suffixes like "-ing"). The ability of free morphemes to exist independently allows them to serve as the foundation for syntax and semantics in language. This aspect differentiates them from other types of morphemes, such as those that change meaning based on specific contexts or are simply not recognized in any language. The clarity and autonomy of free morphemes in expression make them fundamental to understanding word formation and language structure.