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

The new version updates the story with Cunio’s liberation last October. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026

After all, scholars have been assuring us for years that disco was a site of subversion, liberation, and transgression, and yet these findings clearly did not trouble the MAGA gang. —Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026

Their work, which reexamines the boundaries of Black liberation, is inspired by René Magritte, Dorothea Tanning, and Kerry James Marshall, as well as their Nigerian heritage. —Charlie Vargas, Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026

That weekend, more people celebrated in the streets of Amsterdam than on the day of liberation from Nazi occupation in May, 1945. —Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 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