freedom

free·dom

Use freedom in a sentence

The prisoner was granted his freedom after being rehabilitated and serving his sentence.

noun

Freedom is defined as the state of being free, independent, without restrictions, or release from prison.

An example of freedom is a bird being let out of a cage.
An example of freedom is a woman regaining her independence after a controlling marriage is over.
An example of freedom is the right of U.S. citizens to express their ideas and opinions.
An example of freedom is a prisoner being let out of prison after serving their time.

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"freedom." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM>.

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freedom. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM

freedom

the state or quality of being free; esp.,
1. exemption or liberation from the control of some other person or some arbitrary power; liberty; independence
2. exemption from arbitrary restrictions on a specified civil right; civil or political liberty: freedom of speech
3. exemption or immunity from a specified obligation, discomfort, etc.: freedom from want
4. exemption or release from imprisonment
5. a being able to act, move, use, etc. without hindrance or restraint: to have the freedom of the house
6. a being able of itself to choose or determine action freely: freedom of the will
7. ease of movement or performance; facility
8. a being free from the usual rules, patterns, etc.
9. frankness or easiness of manner; sometimes, an excessive frankness or familiarity
a right or privilege

Origin of freedom

Middle English fredom from Old English freodom: see free and -dom

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"freedom." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM>.

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freedom. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM

freedom

noun

a. The condition of not being in prison or captivity: gave the prisoners their freedom.
b. The condition of being free of restraints, especially the ability to act without control or interference by another or by circumstance: In retirement they finally got the freedom to travel.
a. The condition of not being controlled by another nation or political power; political independence.
b. The condition of not being subject to a despotic or oppressive power; civil liberty.
c. The condition of not being constrained or restricted in a specific aspect of life by a government or other power: freedom of assembly.
d. The condition of not being a slave.
a. The condition of not being affected or restricted by a given circumstance or condition: freedom from want.
b. The condition of not being bound by established conventions or rules: The new style of painting gave artists new freedoms.
The capacity to act by choice rather than by determination, as from fate or a deity; free will: We have the freedom to do as we please all afternoon.
The right to unrestricted use; full access: was given the freedom of their research facilities.
Ease or facility of movement: loose sports clothing, giving the wearer freedom.
Archaic Boldness in behavior; lack of modesty or reserve.

Origin of freedom

Middle English fredom from Old English frēodōm frēo free ; see free . -dōm -dom

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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"freedom." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM>.

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freedom. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM

freedom

autonomy independent self-rule free from outside influence. democratism a doctrine of or belief in social equality or the right of all people to participate equally in politics. eleutheromania Rare. a strong desire for freedom. eleutherophobia an abnormal fear of freedom. franchise 1. a condition of freedom. 2. a right or privilege, especially the right to vote. libertarianism 1. the advocacy of freedom, especially in thought or conduct. 2. Theology. the advocacy of the doctrine of free will. See also necessitarianism. —libertarian, n., adj. liberticide 1. the destruction of freedom. 2. the destroyer of freedom. —liberticidal, adj. manumission the act of setting free or being set free from slavery; emancipation.

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"freedom." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM>.

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freedom. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM

freedom

freedom liberty license

These nouns refer to the power to act, speak, or think without externally imposed restraints. Freedom is the most general term: “In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free” (Abraham Lincoln). Liberty stresses the power of free choice: “liberty, perfect liberty, to think, feel, do just as one pleases” (William Hazlitt). License sometimes denotes deliberate deviation from normally applicable rules or practices to achieve a desired effect: poetic license. Frequently, though, it denotes undue freedom: “the intolerable license with which the newspapers break . . . the rules of decorum” (Edmund Burke).

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"freedom." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM>.

APA Style

freedom. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM

Noun

(countable and uncountable, plural freedoms)

(uncountable) The state of being free, of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
Having recently been released from prison, he didn't know what to do with his newfound freedom.
(countable) The lack of a specific constraint, or of constraints in general; a state of being free, unconstrained.
Freedom of speech is a basic democratic value.
People in our city enjoy many freedoms.
Every child has a right to freedom from fear and freedom from want.

Usage notes

The phrase "freedom from" can have as an object: fear, want, hunger, pain, disease, stress, depression, debt, poverty, necessity, violence, war, advertising, addiction, etc.

Origin

From Middle English freedom, fredom, from Old English frēodōm (“freedom, state of free-will, charter, emancipation, deliverance”), from Proto-Germanic *frijadōmaz (“freedom”), equivalent to free +‎ -dom. Cognate with North Frisian fridoem (“freedom”), Dutch vrijdom (“freedom”), Low German frīdom (“freedom”), Middle High German vrītuom (“freedom”), Norwegian fridom (“freedom”).

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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MLA Style

"freedom." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM>.

APA Style

freedom. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/FREEDOM

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