1
: the quality or state of being free: such as
a
: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action
has the freedom to come and go
children enjoying the freedom of summer vacation
religious/academic freedom
I believe in Liberty for all men … the freedom to choose their friends, enjoy the sunshine and ride on the railroads …—
W. E. B. Du Bois
W. E. B. Du Bois
b
: liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence
a political prisoner struggling to win his freedom
c(1)
: the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous
freedom from want/fear/consequences
… he would desire absolute quiet and freedom from interruption.—Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
(2)
: the state of being unmarried
After nearly 20 years of marriage, Squires and her ex-husband … called it quits. … "He wanted his freedom," she said.—Hallie Woods
Hallie Woods
d
: unrestricted use
gave him the freedom of their home
And he longed to have the freedom of that garden.—Lucy Maud Montgomery
Lucy Maud Montgomery
f
: the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken
answered with freedom
g
somewhat old-fashioned
: improper familiarity : liberty sense 3a
We received and forwarded your Letter … but first, took the freedom to peruse it …—Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley
h
: boldness of conception or execution
… wooed his readers through the metrical freedom of his poetry …—Amanda Glauert
Amanda Glauert2
a
: a political right
an important freedom
basic human freedoms
especially
: a right or liberty guaranteed by a constitution or fundamental law : franchise sense 1b
Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press … —U.S. Constitution
U.S. Constitution freedom of assembly
the freedom to vote
b
: a power or liberty granted by one in authority
A few of the grandchildren … have been unduly pampered and allowed freedoms which were unknown in my day.—Robert Lawson
Robert LawsonSynonyms of freedom
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
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 on the Web
Through fluid fabrics, natural textures, and hues inspired by China’s traditional five-color philosophy, the collection explored the balance between transparency and freedom — a continuation of the brand’s humanist and ecological roots.
—Li Jun, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025
That gives the creative team ample freedom to flesh out their vision of Derry, all while paying tribute to the breadth of King's vast oeuvre, which, by virtue of the author's penchant for cross-pollination, lends itself to Easter eggs.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Free from the demands of daily chores, every day offers the freedom to live retirement on their own terms.
—Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
In her latest single, the young star of the Aguilar dynasty shows how to transform the pain of a breakup into a feeling of freedom and peace.
—Luisa Calle, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for freedom
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Li Jun, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025
That gives the creative team ample freedom to flesh out their vision of Derry, all while paying tribute to the breadth of King's vast oeuvre, which, by virtue of the author's penchant for cross-pollination, lends itself to Easter eggs.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Free from the demands of daily chores, every day offers the freedom to live retirement on their own terms.
—Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
In her latest single, the young star of the Aguilar dynasty shows how to transform the pain of a breakup into a feeling of freedom and peace.
—Luisa Calle, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for freedom
Cite this Entry
“Freedom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freedom. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
freedom
noun
free·dom
ˈfrēd-əm 
1
a
: the state of being free : liberty, independence
b
: ability to move or act freely
c
: the state of being released from something usually unpleasant
freedom from care
d
: the quality of being frank or open
answered with freedom
e
: use without restriction
has the freedom of the house
2
: a political right
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