liberty

¹

[lib-er-tee]

noun

plural

liberties 

1. freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control.

2. freedom from external or foreign rule; independence.

3. freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice.

4. freedom from captivity, confinement, or physical restraint.

   The prisoner soon regained his liberty.

   Synonyms: liberation

5. permission granted to a sailor, especially in the navy, to go ashore.

6. freedom or right to frequent or use a place.

   The visitors were given the liberty of the city.

   Synonyms: immunity, privilege, license, permission, franchise

7. unwarranted or impertinent freedom in action or speech, or a form or instance of it.

   to take liberties.

8. a female figure personifying freedom from despotism.

Liberty

²

[lib-er-tee]

noun

1. a town in W Missouri.

liberty

/ ˈlɪbətɪ /

noun

1. the power of choosing, thinking, and acting for oneself; freedom from control or restriction

2. the right or privilege of access to a particular place; freedom

3. (often plural) a social action regarded as being familiar, forward, or improper

4. (often plural) an action that is unauthorized or unwarranted in the circumstances

   he took liberties with the translation

5. 1. authorized leave granted to a sailor

   2. ( as modifier )

      liberty man

      liberty boat

6. free, unoccupied, or unrestricted

7. to be overfamiliar or overpresumptuous (with)

8. to venture or presume (to do something)

Word History and Origins

Origin of liberty¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English liberte, from Middle French, from Latin lībertāt-, stem of lībertās, equivalent to līber “free” + -tās -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of liberty¹

C14: from Old French liberté, from Latin lībertās, from līber free

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at liberty,

   1. free from captivity or restraint.

   2. unemployed; out of work.

   3. free to do or be as specified.

      You are at liberty to leave at any time during the meeting.

see at liberty; take the liberty of.

Synonym Study

See freedom.

Example Sentences

Leni’s superior effort, its small liberties notwithstanding, hews much closer to Willard’s original play—a model for what is now called the comedy-horror picture.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This nation, “conceived in liberty,” freely accepted it.

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Charlie’s assassination forced Americans to confront a dark truth: Leftist extremists are waging war on the rule of law, liberty and our way of life.

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The military buildup, bombing and threat of more in the name of liberty is one of the oldest moves in the American foreign policy playbook.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It violates the Supreme Court’s long-established precedents on the freedom of citizens to donate reasonable amounts to political candidates, and it restricts the liberty of thousands of employees in a particular disfavored industry.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal