freedom of the city
Americannoun
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nominal citizenship in a city, conferred as an honor upon important visitors.
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(formerly) official citizenship in a city, conferred upon distinguished nonresidents.
Etymology
Origin of freedom of the city
First recorded in 1765–75
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His award comes after the four members of Sabbath - Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Terence "Geezer" Butler and Bill Ward - were given the freedom of the city of Birmingham, back in June.
From BBC ● Dec. 1, 2025
Black Sabbath have been given the freedom of the city of Birmingham.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2025
Labour's Dame Margaret is in her 40th year as MP for Derby South and could receive the freedom of the city before she steps down as an MP at the next General Election.
From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2023
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is to be given the freedom of the city after leading The Reds to huge success.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2022
An incident which gave Bute sincere pleasure, during the year of his mayoralty of Cardiff, was the presentation to him of the freedom of the city of Glasgow, which took place on October 7, 1891.
From John Patrick, Third Marquess of Bute, K.T. A Memoir by David Hunter Blair
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
