liberty
liberty Lexical Profile
liberty Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views.
"The constitution was drafted to protect the individual liberty of every citizen."
The state of not being imprisoned, enslaved, or physically confined.
"After spending five years in captivity, the wrongly accused journalist finally regained his liberty."
The power, right, or permission to do or choose something as one pleases (often used in the phrase 'at liberty').
"I am not at liberty to disclose the confidential details of the settlement."
An action or remark that goes beyond what is considered socially acceptable, respectful, or faithful to an original source (usually used in the plural or with 'take').
"The director took several creative liberties with the historical timeline to make the film more dramatic."
Authorized leave granted to a sailor to go ashore while off duty.
"The crew was granted forty-eight hours of shore liberty when the vessel docked in Honolulu."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'liberty' and 'freedom' are often used interchangeably, 'liberty' originates from Latin and frequently emphasizes civil, political, or legal rights granted within a structured society, whereas 'freedom' (from Old English) carries a broader, more personal sense of the absence of any restraint.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French 'liberte', which derives from Latin 'libertas' ('freedom, condition of a freeman'), rooted in the adjective 'liber' meaning 'free'.