Definition of freedom
1 : the quality or state of being free: such asa : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or actionb : liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independencec : the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous freedom from cared : ease, facility spoke the language with freedome : the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken answered with freedomf : improper familiarityg : boldness of conception or executionh : unrestricted use gave him the freedom of their home
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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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of freedom from the Web
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Anderson has asked the American Civil Liberties Union and several other electronic freedom and individual rights organizations to take up the case, but all have declined.
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The NCAA rule allowing grad transfers gives players freedom to pursue other opportunities - academic or athletic - and the player has fulfilled every imaginable obligation once he's earned his degree.
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Even though Lebanon enjoys a greater margin of freedom of expression than other countries in the region, prior censorship remains in place, particularly with content relating to Israel, religion and homosexuality.
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The U.S. Supreme Court will consider giving states more freedom to rid their voter rolls of people who haven’t cast ballots in a while.
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Over the past 20 years, the woman whose world had shrunk to the size of a boat cabin has experienced the freedom that comes with expanding your own horizons.
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Germany would be reunited under a constitution that allowed the country freedom to choose its own social system.
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The flare-up between the two nations was in part a reflection of their starkly differing cultures of leaks and media freedoms.
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Christian doctors in Ontario are taking their professional college to court, arguing that the requirement to directly refer patients infringes on their religious freedoms.
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.
Origin and Etymology of freedom
see 1free
First Known Use: before 12th century
Synonym Discussion of freedom
Other Government and Politics Terms
FREEDOM Defined for Kids
freedom
playDefinition of freedom for Students
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
Law Dictionary
freedom
Legal Definition of freedom
1 : the quality or state of being free: 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 c : the quality or state of being exempt or released from something onerous
2a : a political or civil right b : franchise 2
Learn More about freedom
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See words that rhyme with freedom Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for freedom Spanish Central: Translation of freedom Nglish: Translation of freedom for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of freedom for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about freedom
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