A freeman was someone in medieval times who had personal liberty and wasn't owned by a lord or master. Unlike serfs (who were bound to work land they could never leave) or slaves (who were considered property), a freeman could own property, move to a new town, choose his work, and make decisions about his own life.

In medieval Europe, being a freeman mattered enormously. A freeman might work as a craftsman, merchant, or farmer on his own land. He could join a guild, vote in town elections, and defend himself in court. His children were born free, not automatically bound to serve someone else's family for generations.

Most people in medieval society weren't free in this way. When a serf gained freedom (perhaps by saving money to buy it, or by running away to a city for a year and a day), becoming a freeman transformed his entire future.

In American history, “freeman” took on new meaning in colonial times, referring to property-owning citizens who could vote and participate in government. Some colonies and early states used the term specifically in their laws about voting rights.