freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control.
freedom from external or foreign rule; independence.
freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice.
freedom from captivity, confinement, or physical restraint.
The prisoner soon regained his liberty.
permission granted to a sailor, especially in the navy, to go ashore.
freedom or right to frequent or use a place.
The visitors were given the liberty of the city.
unwarranted or impertinent freedom in action or speech, or a form or instance of it.
to take liberties.
a female figure personifying freedom from despotism.
the power of choosing, thinking, and acting for oneself; freedom from control or restriction
the right or privilege of access to a particular place; freedom
(often plural) a social action regarded as being familiar, forward, or improper
(often plural) an action that is unauthorized or unwarranted in the circumstances
he took liberties with the translation
authorized leave granted to a sailor
( as modifier )
liberty man
liberty boat
free, unoccupied, or unrestricted
to be overfamiliar or overpresumptuous (with)
to venture or presume (to do something)
See freedom.
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English liberte, from Middle French, from Latin lībertāt-, stem of lībertās, equivalent to līber “free” + -tās -ty 2
Liberty is a kind of freedom, whether it's freedom from tyranny, freedom from confinement, or simply the freedom of choice. The phrase "give me liberty or give me death" is attributed to Patrick Henry, whose 1775 speech persuaded the Virginia colony to raise troops to fight the British in the American Revolutionary War. For sailors and naval officers, liberty means shore leave — a brief vacation on land between voyages. We also use this noun to describe the act of getting a little too familiar or personal with someone, or doing something before we have their approval or permission.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It democratizes constitutional enforcement because it poses the simplest and most urgent question: Does the state have actual grounds to take away this person’s liberty?
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
But he had a distinct view of liberty and justice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
But the most important theme in the PCA report isn’t a direct repudiation of Christian nationalism but an affirmation of religious liberty.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Patriotism is about widening the circle of liberty, dignity and opportunity so that more people can fully participate in the promise of this country.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026
Finally at liberty, I pushed myself out from under the couch, took my bundle, and rose.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
“You take the obscure office of the Treasury to which World Liberty has applied: If they deny the application, you can assume that person will lose their job. It’s obvious on its face.”
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
Zach Witkoff did not respond to dozens of questions about his father, the Trumps, or World Liberty.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
A public celebration of his life will be held Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills’ Hall of Liberty.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
On Thursday, thick haze of smoke blocked views across New York City, including the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
The Secret Service put counterspies—spies who hunt and trap other spies—into the Sons of Liberty, especially in New York and Boston.
From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen
“There are some severe civil liberties infringements going on,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
I favor any amendments that serve any of three core constitutional functions: restraining the federal government, protecting the liberties of the people, and making our democracy work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Civil liberties campaigning group Big Brother Watch slammed the live facial recognition expansion as an "alarming escalation of an intrusive technology".
From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026
Much of the concerns raised so far about the proposals have been about civil liberties and government overreach.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
“It’s not like we have civil liberties in here—or lawyers.”
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
