freedom

American  

[free-duhm] / ˈfri dəm /

noun

1. the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.

   He won his freedom after a retrial.

2. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

3. the power to determine action without restraint.

4. political or national independence.

5. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery.

   The formerly enslaved seamstress bought her freedom and later became Mary Todd Lincoln’s dressmaker and stylist.

6. exemption from the presence of anything specified (usually followed byfrom ).

   freedom from fear.

7. the absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc.

8. ease or facility of movement or action.

   to enjoy the freedom of living in the country.

9. frankness of manner or speech.

   Synonyms:

   ingenuousness, openness

10. general exemption or immunity.

    freedom from taxation.

11. the absence of ceremony or reserve.

12. a liberty taken.

    Synonyms:

    license

13. a particular immunity or privilege enjoyed, as by a city or corporation.

    freedom to levy taxes.

14. civil liberty, as opposed to subjection to an arbitrary or despotic government.

15. the right to enjoy all the privileges or special rights of citizenship, membership, etc., in a community or the like.

16. the right to frequent, enjoy, or use at will.

    to have the freedom of a friend's library.

    Synonyms:

    run

17. Philosophy. the power to exercise choice and make decisions without constraint from within or without; autonomy; self-determination.

---

freedom British  

/ ˈfriːdəm /

noun

1. personal liberty, as from slavery, bondage, serfdom, etc

2. liberation or deliverance, as from confinement or bondage

3. the quality or state of being free, esp to enjoy political and civil liberties

4. (usually foll by from) the state of being without something unpleasant or bad; exemption or immunity

   freedom from taxation

5. the right or privilege of unrestricted use or access

   the freedom of a city

6. autonomy, self-government, or independence

7. the power or liberty to order one's own actions

8. philosophy the quality, esp of the will or the individual, of not being totally constrained; able to choose between alternative actions in identical circumstances

9. ease or frankness of manner; candour

   she talked with complete freedom

10. excessive familiarity of manner; boldness

11. ease and grace, as of movement; lack of effort

---

Related Words

Freedom, independence, liberty refer to an absence of undue restrictions and an opportunity to exercise one's rights and powers. Freedom emphasizes the opportunity given for the exercise of one's rights, powers, desires, or the like: freedom of speech or conscience; freedom of movement. Independence implies not only lack of restrictions but also the ability to stand alone, unsustained by anything else: Independence of thought promotes invention and discovery. Liberty, though most often interchanged with freedom, is also used to imply undue exercise of freedom: He took liberties with the text.

Other Word Forms

• nonfreedom noun
• overfreedom noun
• unfreedom noun

Etymology

Origin of freedom

First recorded before 900; Middle English fredom, Old English frēodōm; free, -dom

Explanation

Freedom is the state of being entirely free. Many governments claim to guarantee freedom, but often people do not, in fact, have the absolute freedom to act or speak without restraint. People in jail long for freedom. People living under an oppressive government also long for freedom. In the United States, people theoretically have "freedom of speech": the right to say whatever they’re moved to say. You’ll notice the word free in freedom. Free comes from the German frei, meaning, “to love.” The word friend shares this origin. You can think of freedom as the condition in which you have the choice to love any friend you wish.

Example Sentences

Now, retail investors have more freedom to participate in margin trading, which could increase platform engagement on Robinhood.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Initially dismissed by many white Americans as too radical, Black Conventions during Reconstruction made the right to vote central to freedom, insisting that it was essential to their protection.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

Ultimately, laws exist not only to protect freedom, but to preserve the conditions that make freedom meaningful.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

“CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

How different it was to share space peacefully with them, and watch them move around with all the freedom and dignity we took for granted!

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

• autonomy
• citizenship
• democracy
• emancipation
• exemption
• immunity
• liberation
• privilege
• release
• relief
• self-determination
• self-government
• sovereignty