freedom
Americannoun
-
freedoms
plural
-
the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.
He won his freedom after a retrial.
-
exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.
-
the power to determine action without restraint.
-
political or national independence.
-
personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery.
The formerly enslaved seamstress bought her freedom and later became Mary Todd Lincoln’s dressmaker and stylist.
-
exemption from the presence of anything specified (usually followed byfrom ).
freedom from fear.
-
the absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc.
-
ease or facility of movement or action.
to enjoy the freedom of living in the country.
-
frankness of manner or speech.
- Synonyms:
- ingenuousness, openness
-
general exemption or immunity.
freedom from taxation.
-
the absence of ceremony or reserve.
-
a liberty taken.
- Synonyms:
- license
-
a particular immunity or privilege enjoyed, as by a city or corporation.
freedom to levy taxes.
-
civil liberty, as opposed to subjection to an arbitrary or despotic government.
-
the right to enjoy all the privileges or special rights of citizenship, membership, etc., in a community or the like.
-
the right to frequent, enjoy, or use at will.
to have the freedom of a friend's library.
- Synonyms:
- run
-
Philosophy. the power to exercise choice and make decisions without constraint from within or without; autonomy; self-determination.
noun
-
personal liberty, as from slavery, bondage, serfdom, etc
-
liberation or deliverance, as from confinement or bondage
-
the quality or state of being free, esp to enjoy political and civil liberties
-
(usually foll by from) the state of being without something unpleasant or bad; exemption or immunity
freedom from taxation
-
the right or privilege of unrestricted use or access
the freedom of a city
-
autonomy, self-government, or independence
-
the power or liberty to order one's own actions
-
philosophy the quality, esp of the will or the individual, of not being totally constrained; able to choose between alternative actions in identical circumstances
-
ease or frankness of manner; candour
she talked with complete freedom
-
excessive familiarity of manner; boldness
-
ease and grace, as of movement; lack of effort
Synonym Usage
Freedom, independence, liberty refer to an absence of undue restrictions and an opportunity to exercise one's rights and powers. Freedom emphasizes the opportunity given for the exercise of one's rights, powers, desires, or the like: freedom of speech or conscience; freedom of movement. Independence implies not only lack of restrictions but also the ability to stand alone, unsustained by anything else: Independence of thought promotes invention and discovery. Liberty, though most often interchanged with freedom, is also used to imply undue exercise of freedom: He took liberties with the text.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of freedom
First recorded before 900; Middle English fredom, Old English frēodōm; see free, -dom
Explanation
Freedom is the state of being entirely free. Many governments claim to guarantee freedom, but often people do not, in fact, have the absolute freedom to act or speak without restraint. People in jail long for freedom. People living under an oppressive government also long for freedom. In the United States, people theoretically have "freedom of speech": the right to say whatever they’re moved to say. You’ll notice the word free in freedom. Free comes from the German frei, meaning, “to love.” The word friend shares this origin. You can think of freedom as the condition in which you have the choice to love any friend you wish.
Vocabulary lists containing freedom
Veterans Day Vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The First Amendment of the US Constitution
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." and "I Have a Dream"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The move is likely to be met with legal challenges from the outlets involved and press freedom organisations.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
“I hope to keep making records, but I also have the understanding that I have the freedom and liberation to be able to make a record and not necessarily worry about its commercial prospects.”
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
The leaders emphasized university policy: “The principles of academic freedom protect freedom of inquiry and research, freedom of teaching, and freedom of expression and publication.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
The Union of Journalists in Israel denounced threats against the filmmakers, saying in a statement that "without freedom of expression, there is no democracy".
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
The enslaved people who had miraculously made it to shore had not, however, found freedom.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
It advocated for greater freedoms and rule of law even as those notions fell increasingly out of favor with a populace willing to embrace a strongman ruler to end the post-Soviet economic malaise.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
The UK media has long been criticised for being too intrusive, and moves have been made to curtail some of its worse excesses, while balancing the need for press freedoms.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
What are you doing to expand fundamental freedoms to you, your loved ones, and your neighbors?
From Slate ● Aug. 8, 2026
It’s also possible that the hints about export controls are diplomatic posturing by the Chinese government, intended to discourage the U.S. from imposing any restrictions on its technological freedoms.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Under the nazis, normal life became impossible for young people and their families as they lost their basic freedoms.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
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.
