noun A2 Elementary Common

liberty

LIHB-ih-tee

Liberty (noun) means Freedom from oppressive restriction or control; the state of being free to act, speak, or believe as one chooses. Example: “The revolution was fought in the name of liberty and equality.”

noun

Freedom from oppressive restriction or control; the state of being free to act, speak, or believe as one chooses.

"The revolution was fought in the name of liberty and equality."

"Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of civil liberty."

Freedom from imprisonment, slavery, or forced confinement.

"After years in prison, he finally tasted liberty again."

A short period of shore leave granted to a sailor.

"The crew was given liberty for the weekend while the ship was in port."

How to use liberty

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFreedom — from oppression, imprisonment, or restriction — often used in political or philosophical contexts.

Common pairings

take the liberty of civil liberty at liberty liberty of speech

Word forms

liberties plural, Libertys plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The revolution was fought in the name of _____ and equality.

Etymology

From Old French liberté, from Latin libertas, "freedom," from liber, "free."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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independence autonomy self-determination emancipation latitude license freedom

Related words

freedom independence permission license permit patent qualify liberation

Rhymes for liberty

poverty puberty Doherty property Flaherty Haggerty Lafferty Rafferty Finnerty Cafferty

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Frequently asked questions

What does “liberty” mean?

The word “liberty” means freedom from oppressive restriction or control; the state of being free to act, speak, or believe as one chooses. In plain terms, freedom — from oppression, imprisonment, or restriction — often used in political or philosophical contexts.

How do you pronounce “liberty”?

“Liberty” is pronounced LIHB-ih-tee (/ˈlɪb.ɚ.ti/ in IPA).

How do you use “liberty” in a sentence?

Here is “liberty” used in a sentence: “The revolution was fought in the name of liberty and equality.”

What is another word for “liberty”?

Words with a similar meaning to “liberty” include freedom.

What part of speech is “liberty”?

“Liberty” is a noun.

Where does the word “liberty” come from?

The word “liberty” comes from Latin. From Old French liberté, from Latin libertas, "freedom," from liber, "free.".

Is “liberty” a common word?

“Liberty” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “liberty” have?

“Liberty” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: freedom from oppressive restriction or control; the state of being free to act, speak, or believe as one chooses.

What is the difference between liberty and freedom?

Liberty and freedom both describe the state of being free to act, speak, or believe as one chooses. In practice, liberty often carries a more formal, legal, or political tone (as in civil liberties), while freedom is the broader, more everyday word.

Is liberty countable or uncountable?

Liberty is usually uncountable when it means freedom in general ("the fight for liberty"). It becomes countable when it refers to specific rights or freedoms, as in "civil liberties."

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