liberty

noun

LIB-ur-tee/ˈlɪb.ɚ.ti/UK · AUSLIB-uh-tee/ˈlɪb.ɪ.ti/

Pluralliberties (some meanings)

8 meanings of liberty

1
noununcountable
The state of being free rather than trapped or controlled.
Like a bird let out of its cage.
She valued her liberty above comfort or wealth.
Few things matter more than liberty once it has been taken away.
Similarfreedom, independence, autonomy
Oppositecaptivity, bondage, slavery, servitude
Note
2
noununcountable
Being free to do, believe, or say what you choose.
Like being allowed to pick your own path instead of following one set for you.
In a free country, citizens enjoy the liberty to worship as they please.
Artists need the liberty to express ideas that others might find uncomfortable.
Similarfreedom, right, latitude
Oppositerestriction, constraint, restraint
3
noununcountable
Being free from prison, slavery, or forced work.
Like a captive animal set loose from its cage.
The court granted him his liberty after new evidence cleared his name.
Enslaved people risked everything for the smallest chance of liberty.
Similarfreedom, release, emancipation
Oppositeimprisonment, captivity, slavery, bondage
4
noununcountable
Being free from too much control by the government.
Like running your own home without someone always telling you what to do.
They marched in defense of personal liberty against new surveillance laws.
The pamphlet argued that taxing people without consent threatened their liberty.
Similarfreedom, autonomy, independence
Oppositetyranny, despotism, oppression, authoritarianism
5
nouncountable
An action that breaks the normal rules of polite behavior.
Like pushing past where you are really allowed to go.
Calling the duchess by her first name was quite a liberty.
He took the liberty of reading her diary without asking.
Similarimpertinence, presumption, impudence, cheek, nerve
Oppositecourtesy, deference, respect
Note
6
noununcountable
Time when a sailor is allowed to leave the ship and go on land.
Like a short break from work to rest and have fun.
The sailors had liberty in port and went looking for a good meal.
He spent his liberty exploring the harbor town.
Similarleave, furlough
Note
7
nounhistoricalcountable
An area in old England that ran its own local government.
Like a small district that runs its own affairs instead of the king's officers.
The town lay within an ancient liberty that had its own court.
Records show the liberty collected its own taxes.
Note
8
nouncountable
An empty point right next to your own group of stones in the game Go.
Like an open door next to a trapped group: close it and they are caught.
The black group had only one liberty left before capture.
She filled the last liberty and took the stones off the board.
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin libertas, meaning "freedom," from liber, meaning "free." It reached English through French.