liberation
lih-buh-RAY-shuhn
Liberation (noun) means the act of setting someone or something free, or the state of having been freed. Example: “The prisoners' liberation after years in jail was celebrated by their families.”
noun
1
The act of setting someone or something free, or the state of having been freed.
"The liberation of American slaves was accomplished by the Department of War, that of British slaves by the Exchequer."
"The prisoners' liberation after years in jail was celebrated by their families."
"Her unexpected liberation from the burden of debt felt like flying."
"The liberation of the camp survivors marked the end of the war for them."
"People saw in the elders, who were closer to death, the manifestation of the divine force that was thought to achieve its full liberation at death."
— Julius Evola, The Two Paths in the Afterlife (1995)
2
The achievement of equal rights and freedom from long-standing oppression for a group.
"The museum tells the story of the liberation movement for equal rights."
"Many writers have campaigned for the liberation of oppressed minorities."
"The movement fought for the liberation of women in the workplace."
How to use liberation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing set free, or the fight to win freedom and equal rights.
Common pairings
women's liberation
the liberation of a country
a liberation movement
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Word forms
- Plural
- liberations
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The prisoners' _____ after years in jail was celebrated by their families.
Etymology
From Middle French libération, from Latin liberatio, "a freeing" — built on liberate plus the noun suffix -ion.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for liberation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for liberation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “liberation” mean?
The word “liberation” means the act of setting someone or something free, or the state of having been freed. In plain terms, being set free, or the fight to win freedom and equal rights.
How do you pronounce “liberation”?
“Liberation” is pronounced lih-buh-RAY-shuhn (/ˌlɪbəˈɹeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “liberation” in a sentence?
Here is “liberation” used in a sentence: “The liberation of the camp survivors marked the end of the war for them.”
What is another word for “liberation”?
Words with a similar meaning to “liberation” include emancipation and independence.
What is the opposite of “liberation”?
The opposite of “liberation” — its antonyms — are enslavement and oppression.
What part of speech is “liberation”?
“Liberation” is a noun.
Where does the word “liberation” come from?
The word “liberation” comes from Latin. From Middle French libération, from Latin liberatio, "a freeing" — built on liberate plus the noun suffix -ion.
Is “liberation” a common word?
“Liberation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between liberation and freedom?
Liberation is the act or process of setting someone or something free, while freedom is the state of being free that results. Liberation is the action, whereas freedom is the condition it produces.
What is the difference between liberation and emancipation?
Both mean setting someone free, but emancipation usually refers to being formally or legally freed from a specific restriction such as slavery, while liberation is broader. Liberation can describe freeing people, places, or ideas from any kind of control or oppression.
What is the difference between liberation and independence?
Liberation is the act of being set free from oppression or control, while independence is the state of governing oneself without outside rule. A nation may achieve liberation from an occupying force and then establish its independence.
What are common collocations with liberation?
Liberation appears in phrases such as 'women's liberation,' 'liberation movement,' 'national liberation,' and 'day of liberation.' A 'liberation movement' is an organized effort to free a group from oppression.
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