liberty

¹

[ lib-er-tee ]

noun

, plural lib·er·ties.

1. freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control.
2. freedom from external or foreign rule; independence.
3. freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice.
4. freedom from captivity, confinement, or physical restraint:

   The prisoner soon regained his liberty.

   Synonyms: liberation

5. permission granted to a sailor, especially in the navy, to go ashore.
6. freedom or right to frequent or use a place:

   The visitors were given the liberty of the city.

   Synonyms: immunity, privilege, license, permission, franchise

7. unwarranted or impertinent freedom in action or speech, or a form or instance of it:

   to take liberties.

8. a female figure personifying freedom from despotism.

Liberty

²

[ lib-er-tee ]

noun

1. a town in W Missouri.

liberty

/ ˈlɪbətɪ /

noun

1. the power of choosing, thinking, and acting for oneself; freedom from control or restriction
2. the right or privilege of access to a particular place; freedom
3. often plural a social action regarded as being familiar, forward, or improper
4. often plural an action that is unauthorized or unwarranted in the circumstances

   he took liberties with the translation

5. 1. authorized leave granted to a sailor
   2. ( as modifier )

      liberty man

      liberty boat

6. at liberty
   free, unoccupied, or unrestricted
7. take liberties
   to be overfamiliar or overpresumptuous (with)
8. take the liberty
   to venture or presume (to do something)

Word History and Origins

Origin of liberty¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English liberte, from Middle French, from Latin lībertāt-, stem of lībertās, equivalent to līber “free” + -tās -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of liberty¹

C14: from Old French liberté, from Latin lībertās, from līber free

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at liberty,
   1. free from captivity or restraint.
   2. unemployed; out of work.
   3. free to do or be as specified:

      You are at liberty to leave at any time during the meeting.

More idioms and phrases containing liberty

see at liberty ; take the liberty of .

Synonym Study

See freedom.

Example Sentences

As the public school we are not at liberty to provide that information.

From Voice of San Diego

Women and men who believed so fiercely in the promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all.

From Fortune

The pandemic has accelerated this attrition of individual liberties.

From MIT Technology Review

The challenge has always been to balance our national security needs while protecting civil liberties.

From Voice of San Diego

Minority groups have, for the most part, gone along with restrictions on their liberty for the sake of the health of all.

From No Straight News

At this point Marvin gives his Liberty Valance smile, the kind that makes you wish you could disintegrate in front of him.

From The Daily Beast

Finally, Van Cleef and Martin realize Liberty is going too far.

From The Daily Beast

The first day of Liberty, I was hanging around waiting for Ford to come in.

From The Daily Beast

But Liberty is always dipping his shoulder, whirling around.

From The Daily Beast

We are looking forward to working closely with this champion of liberty.

From The Daily Beast

Whether advocates and orators had liberty to plead in causes, manifestly known to be unjust, vexatious, or oppressive?

From Project Gutenberg

He worketh under correction, and seeketh to rest: let his hands be idle, and he seeketh liberty.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a further refinement when the staunch little lover of liberty sets about "easing" the pressure of commands.

From Project Gutenberg

He walked on, and thought of the rapt liberty of the soul in the sweet serenities of beautiful solitude.

From Project Gutenberg

"And the first thing you did with your liberty was to come to Europe," said Miss Thangue, with a sympathetic smile.

From Project Gutenberg