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freedom

noun
free·​dom | \ ˈfrÄ“-dÉ™m How to pronounce freedom (audio) \

Definition of freedom

1 : the quality or state of being free: such as
a : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action
b : liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence
c : the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous freedom from care
d : unrestricted use gave him the freedom of their home
e : ease, facility spoke the language with freedom
f : the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken answered with freedom
g : improper familiarity
h : boldness of conception or execution
2a : a political right
b : franchise, privilege
Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about freedom

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Choose the Right Synonym for freedom

freedom, liberty, license mean the power or condition of acting without compulsion. freedom has a broad range of application from total absence of restraint to merely a sense of not being unduly hampered or frustrated. freedom of the press liberty suggests release from former restraint or compulsion. the released prisoner had difficulty adjusting to his new liberty license implies freedom specially granted or conceded and may connote an abuse of freedom. freedom without responsibility may degenerate into license

Examples of freedom in a Sentence

Or Bugs would do the impossible by jumping out of the frame and landing on the drawing board of the cartoonist who was at work creating him. This freedom to transcend the laws of basic physics, to hop around in time and space, and to skip from one dimension to another has long been a crucial aspect of imaginative poetry. — Billy Collins, Wall Street Journal, 28-29 June 2008 I can see that my choices were never truly mine alone—and that that is how it should be, that to assert otherwise is to chase after a sorry sort of freedom. — Barack Obama, Dreams from My Father, (1995) 2004 It's the beginning of summer.  … For many adults who are really closet kids, this means that their blood hums with a hint of freedom … — Anna Quindlen, Newsweek, 18 June 2001 He thinks children these days have too much freedom. She has the freedom to do as she likes. a political prisoner struggling to win his freedom
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Recent Examples on the Web

 The housing giants back half the America's mortgages and housing experts have warned that allowing them too much freedom again could lead to higher mortgage costs for consumers while enriching Wall Street investors. — Renae Merle, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump administration releases plan to revamp the US housing market," 6 Sep. 2019 These incidents are outliers, likely fueled by the sense of freedom from norms that can be created on a ship at sea and the free-flowing liquor on board. — Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, "Cruise Ship Etiquette Tips: A Primer For Before You Sail," 4 Sep. 2019 Now it is accepted that a certain amount of friction is the guardian of freedom in a democracy. — The Economist, "How Viktor Orban hollowed out Hungary’s democracy," 29 Aug. 2019 However, the 425-bed Courtyard was criticized by the ACLU of Southern California in a 2019 report for alleged unsanitary conditions, discrimination and suppression of freedom of expression. — Daniel Langhorne, Daily Pilot, "O.C. extends contract with embattled homeless shelter operator," 29 Aug. 2019 The First Amendment is an important protection of press freedom. — Rich Lowry, National Review, "The New York Times Should Stop Whining," 27 Aug. 2019 Many slaves were forced to fight on both sides with the unkept promise of freedom. — Nina Strochlic, National Geographic, "How slavery flourished in the United States," 23 Aug. 2019 His performances were gorgeously idiosyncratic, and the mere act of watching him was its own kind of freedom. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, "Remembering Peter Fonda as a Counterculture Star," 22 Aug. 2019 Free speech, in other words, is not a precondition of political freedom, but a result. — Jacob Bacharach, The New Republic, "Who Gets to Speak Freely?," 21 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'freedom.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of freedom

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for freedom

see free entry 1

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More Definitions for freedom

freedom

noun
How to pronounce freedom (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of freedom

: the power to do what you want to do : the ability to move or act freely
: the state of not being a slave, prisoner, etc.
: the state of not having or being affected by something unpleasant, painful, or unwanted

See the full definition for freedom in the English Language Learners Dictionary

freedom

noun
free·​dom | \ ˈfrÄ“-dÉ™m How to pronounce freedom (audio) \

Kids Definition of freedom

1 : the condition of having liberty The slaves won their freedom.
2 : ability to move or act as desired freedom of choice freedom of movement
3 : release from something unpleasant freedom from care
4 : the quality of being very frank : candor spoke with freedom
5 : a political right freedom of speech

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