liberation

noun

lib·​er·​a·​tion ˌli-bə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the act of liberating : the state of being liberated

2

: a movement seeking equal rights and status for a group

women's liberation

liberationist

ˌli-bə-ˈrā-sh(ə-)nist 

noun

Synonyms of liberation

• emancipation

Examples of liberation in a Sentence

The liberation of the city took weeks.

the liberation of the slaves was one of the key results of the Civil War

Recent Examples on the Web

Rhaenyra calls dibs on the Aegon kill, but the liberation of Tumbleton (and death of Daeron) will proceed as planned. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

From 1941, when the systematic killing of Jews and other groups began as part of Nazi government policy, until the liberation of concentration camps in 1945, six million Jews would be killed. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Writing in the aftermath of the French Revolution, Schiller argued that the revolution fell short of true liberation because its emphasis on reason led to the dismissal of feeling. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 5 Aug. 2026

Huey Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, published a statement supporting the women’s and gay liberation movements as fellow revolutionaries. — USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English liberacion "deliverance," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, "action of freeing," borrowed from Latin līberātiōn-, līberātiō "setting free, release, acquittal," from līberāre "to give free status to (a slave), release" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at liberate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing liberation

• liberation theology

Rhymes for liberation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

liberation

noun

lib·​er·​a·​tion ˌlib-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the act of liberating : the state of being liberated

2

: a movement seeking equal rights for a group