PoliticsAugust 25, 2026

unfettered

un-FET-urd

Definition

Not restricted, hindered, or controlled; free and unrestrained.

Etymology

The word derives from the noun 'fetter,' meaning a chain or shackle for the feet, which dates back to Old English. To 'unfetter' literally means to remove these shackles, coming to signify absolute freedom from constraints in a figurative sense.

In the news

In this article, politicians are campaigning against the 'unfettered construction' of data centers, referring to development that proceeds without sufficient regulation, oversight, or limits.

The Data Center Backlash Bursts Into the Midterms

Read the full article ↗

The New York Times

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