a province of central South Africa; replaced the former province of Orange Free State in 1994: gold and uranium mining. Capital: Bloemfontein. Pop: 2 745 590 (2011 est). Area: 129 480 sq km (49 992 sq miles)
2. US history
(before the Civil War) any state prohibiting slavery
3. short for Irish Free State
free state in American English
US
any state of the U.S. in which slavery was forbidden before the Civil War