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 city sits along the banks of the Dnipro River, which since Kherson's liberation by Ukraine in the fall of 2022 has formed the frontline between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the southern theater. — David Brennan, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

We were inherently predisposed to seeing our own liberation connected to these other modes of liberation. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

By trading Spider-Man's open-world liberation for linear pacing and hollow hacking-and-slashing, Insomniac delivers a mid-tier action game wrapped in a premium brand name. — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026

While her work has caught the eye of celebrities like actors Jessica Alba and Christina Ricci, Rosales remains consistent in her vision, aesthetic and commitment to brown collectivity and liberation. — Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 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