free rider

See also: freerider

English

Noun

free rider (plural free riders)

1. Someone who obtains goods or services legally without paying.

   The store failed because all of the manager's friends were free riders who drove paying customers away.

2. (economics) One who obtains benefit from a public good without paying for it directly.

   A lighthouse is the classic example of a public good because it is difficult to prevent a ship (a free rider) from using it.

3. (industrial relations) A worker at an open shop who is able to enjoy the benefits negotiated by a union without being a member of the union.

Synonyms

• (who obtains goods or services for free): freeloader; See also Thesaurus:scrounger

Derived terms

• free-rider problem

Related terms

• free ride

Translations

(economics) one who obtains benefit from a public good without paying for it directly

• Finnish: vapaamatkustaja (fi)

• French: passager clandestin (fr) m

See also

• let George do it
• public good
• stowaway
• tragedy of the commons

References

• “free rider” in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• free rider at OneLook Dictionary Search