freedom

noun free·dom \ ˈfrē-dəm \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: freedom in a Sentence

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

2 a : a political right

b : franchise, privilege

See freedom defined for English-language learners

See freedom defined for kids

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

Recent Examples of freedom from the Web

Her release is a half-way house toward freedom, really a new form of restriction, another ingenious type of detention-equivalent administered by a [People’s Republic of China] that spawns new types of detention almost every day.

— emily rauhala, Washington Post, "Poet Liu Xia escaped China, but will Beijing ever set her free?," 13 July 2018
Ani DiFranco has sung about reproductive freedom here, John Tesh about God.

— christopher reynolds, latimes.com, "Sitting in the palm of nature: The unique energy — and performances — of Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre," 12 July 2018
This Labor Day weekend, Harley-Davidson is celebrating 115 years of freedom, passion and the open road with an extended party in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from Aug. 29 to Sep. 2.

— harley davidson motor company, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "How to access more at Harley’s 115th party," 12 July 2018
Brazil’s government has given Embraer relative freedom, standing back as the company purchased most of its parts from foreign players and announced heavy layoffs in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to remain nimble.

— samantha pearson and jeffrey lewis, WSJ, "Boeing-Embraer Deal Faces Political Backlash in Brazil," 6 July 2018
The event gives you an hour and change worth of songs, played by a DJ, to dance to in complete freedom, with only enough light in the space to ensure that dancers don’t crash into each other.

— pamela rafalow grossman, SELF, "I Couldn't Find Joy in Exercising After Cancer, Until I Did It in the Dark," 2 July 2018
Today the struggle for freedom continues for people of color...and our children.

— michelle darrisaw, Essence.com, "So Sweet! Young Black Girl Flawlessly Recreates Michelle Obama’s Official Portrait," 21 June 2018
Wolves took it to the court of arbitration on the grounds of freedom of contract.

— SI.com, "How Jeff Shi and Fosun International Transformed Wolverhampton Wanderers Into a Premier League Side," 12 July 2018
Pride for me is a deep feeling of personal satisfaction — of freedom.

— michael james rocha, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego Pride 2018: What San Diego Pride means to me ...," 11 July 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

freedom Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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.