liberty
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.
Idioms about liberty
at liberty,
free from captivity or restraint.
unemployed; out of work.
free to do or be as specified: You are at liberty to leave at any time during the meeting.
Origin of liberty
1synonym study For liberty
Other words for liberty
Words Nearby liberty
Other definitions for Liberty (2 of 2)
a town in W Missouri.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use liberty in a sentence
As the public school we are not at liberty to provide that information.
The Learning Curve: San Diego Unified Is Terrified of Kids Opting Out | Will Huntsberry | September 10, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoWomen and men who believed so fiercely in the promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all.
Why Kamala Harris’s Big Night was bittersweet | Claire Zillman, reporter | August 20, 2020 | FortuneThe pandemic has accelerated this attrition of individual liberties.
Covid-19 and the geopolitics of American decline | Katie McLean | August 19, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewThe challenge has always been to balance our national security needs while protecting civil liberties.
Congressional Dems: New Surveillance Bill Strikes Right Balance | Jesse Marx | June 22, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoMinority groups have, for the most part, gone along with restrictions on their liberty for the sake of the health of all.
Epidemics Have Often Led To Discrimination Against Minorities – This Time Is No Different | LGBTQ-Editor | June 9, 2020 | No Straight News
At this point Marvin gives his liberty Valance smile, the kind that makes you wish you could disintegrate in front of him.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTFinally, Van Cleef and Martin realize liberty is going too far.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe first day of liberty, I was hanging around waiting for Ford to come in.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBut liberty is always dipping his shoulder, whirling around.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWe are looking forward to working closely with this champion of liberty.
Vaclav Klaus, Libertarian Hero, Has His Wings Clipped by Cato Institute | James Kirchick | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhether advocates and orators had liberty to plead in causes, manifestly known to be unjust, vexatious, or oppressive?
Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan SwiftHe worketh under correction, and seeketh to rest: let his hands be idle, and he seeketh liberty.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousIt is a further refinement when the staunch little lover of liberty sets about "easing" the pressure of commands.
Children's Ways | James SullyHe walked on, and thought of the rapt liberty of the soul in the sweet serenities of beautiful solitude.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter"And the first thing you did with your liberty was to come to Europe," said Miss Thangue, with a sympathetic smile.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
British Dictionary definitions for liberty
/ (ˈlɪbətɪ) /
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
at liberty free, unoccupied, or unrestricted
take liberties to be overfamiliar or overpresumptuous (with)
take the liberty to venture or presume (to do something)
Origin of liberty
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with liberty
see at liberty; take the liberty of.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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