freedom

n.

1. Political liberty

   liberty, independence, sovereignty, autonomy, democracy, self-government, self-rule, emancipation, liberation, enfranchisement, franchise, citizenship, right, civil liberty, autarky, self-determination; see also liberty 4.

   Antonyms slavery*, bondage*, repression. *

2. Exemption from necessity

   privilege, immunity, liberty, license, prerogative, right, carte blanche, indulgence, unrestraint, leisure, facility, range, latitude, scope, bent, play, own accord, free rein, full play, laissez faire, leeway, run, plenty of rope*.

   Antonyms restraint*, constraint*, hindrance. *

3. Natural ease and facility

   readiness, forthrightness, spontaneity; see ease 2, informality.

4. Liberty of action

   right to decide, freedom of choice, option, license; see choice 1.

freedom, the broadest in scope of these words, implies the absence of hindrance, restraint, confinement, or repression freedom of speech; liberty, often interchangeable with freedom, strictly connotes past or potential restriction, repression, etc. civil liberties; license implies freedom that consists in violating the usual rules, laws, or practices, either by consent poetic license or as an abuse of liberty slander is license of the tongue