noun
liberty
LIHB-ih-tee
noun
1
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."
2
Freedom from imprisonment, slavery, or forced confinement.
"After years in prison, he finally tasted liberty again."
3
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 notesIn 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
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “liberty”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
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."