n. A person who has formed their opinions using reason and rational enquiry; somebody who has rejected dogma, especially with regard to religion.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. One who speculates or forms opinions independently of the authority of others; esp., in the sphere or religion, one who forms opinions independently of the authority of revelation or of the church; an unbeliever; -- a term assumed by deists and skeptics in the eighteenth century.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. One who is not guided in the formation of his beliefs by obedience to authority, but submits the claims of authority to reason as the ultimate arbiter.
n.Synonyms Unbeliever, Skeptic, etc. See infidel.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. a person who believes that God created the universe and then abandoned it
Word Usage
"Now my first reaction to "freethinker" is "well, you get what you pay for," and nothing in the essay caused me to alter that opinion."