liberty

noun lib·er·ty \ ˈli-bər-tē \

Definition of liberty

plural liberties

1 :the quality or state of being free:

a :the power to do as one pleases

b :freedom from physical restraint

c :freedom from arbitrary or despotic (see despot 2) control

d :the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges

e :the power of choice

2 a :a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant :privilege

b :permission especially to go freely within specified limits

was given the liberty of the house

3 :an action going beyond normal limits: such as

a :a breach of etiquette or propriety :familiarity

took undue liberties with a stranger

b :risk, chance

took foolish liberties with his health

c :a violation of rules or a deviation from standard practice

took liberties in the way he played the game

d :a distortion of fact

The movie takes many liberties with the actual events.

4 :a short authorized absence from naval duty usually for less than 48 hours

— at liberty

1 :free

2 :at leisure :unoccupied

See liberty defined for English-language learners

See liberty defined for kids

Examples of liberty in a Sentence

a nation that values liberty and democracy
soldiers willing to die in defense of liberty
They gave him the liberty to handle the problem himself.
hard-won liberties such as freedom of the press

Recent Examples of liberty from the Web

Have the police forgotten their role as guardians of American liberty?

— david french, National Review, "Antifa Just Showed Its True Colors. Again.," 28 Aug. 2017
Count me as decline to state and in favor of liberty.

— michael smolens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Faulconer gives big speech to overhaul Calif. GOP, but were many listening?," 20 Aug. 2017
Boston’s Democratic mayor, Marty Walsh, and Massachusetts’ Republican governor, Charlie Baker, both warned that extremist unrest wouldn’t be tolerated in this city famed as the cradle of American liberty.

— steve leblanc, The Seattle Times, "Boston, cradle of liberty, braces for spirited protests," 18 Aug. 2017
In 1777, in the midst of the American Revolution, talk of liberty was in the air in Massachusetts.

— katie nodjimbadem, Smithsonian, "Newly Uncovered Documents Address the Mystery of One Slave’s Life," 18 Aug. 2017
These are not the principles – free markets, traditional values, individual liberty, and everyone being created equally under God – on which our country was founded and that conservatives hold dearly.

— karly matthews, Seventeen, "6 Conservative Students Slam Trump's Reaction to White Supremacists in Charlottesville," 17 Aug. 2017
Of course, this is what Captain Marvel has traditionally worn (minus the sash/belt swap), but y'know, Hollywood takes creative liberties sometimes.

— krystin arneson, Glamour, "Brie Larson's Captain Marvel Won't Look Like Many Female Superheroes We've Seen," 23 July 2017
No American should be deprived of liberty or property without due process, and the process due in these cases — which are predicated on underlying criminal activity — is a criminal trial rather than a civil action.

— the editors, National Review, "Jeff Sessions Should Drop His Expansion of Civil Asset Forfeiture," 20 July 2017
Loco moco and huli-huli chicken channel tradition, while a baby octopus terrine with foie gras and the sloppy kimchi burger take delicious liberties.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Los Angeles Magazine Hot Restaurant List for July 2017," 18 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'liberty.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of liberty

Middle English, from Anglo-French liberté, from Latin libertat-, libertas, from liber free — more at liberal

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

liberty Synonyms

Synonyms

alternative, discretion, druthers [dialect], election, choice, option, pick, preference, selection, volition, way

Antonyms

dependence (also dependance), heteronomy, subjection, unfreedom

Related Words

determination, free will, will; say, voice, vote; inclination, liking, partiality, penchant, predilection, proclivity, propensity, tendency; discernment, judgment (or judgement), perspicacity

Near Antonyms

coercion, duress, force; duty, obligation; Hobson's choice

Synonym Discussion of liberty

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.

- freedom of the press

liberty suggests release from former restraint or compulsion.

- the released prisoner had difficulty adjusting to his new liberty

license implies freedom specially granted or conceded and may connote an abuse of freedom.

- freedom without responsibility may degenerate into license

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Liberty

geographical name Lib·er·ty \ ˈli-bər-tē \

Definition of Liberty

city in northwestern Missouri north-northeast of Kansas City population 29,149

LIBERTY Defined for English Language Learners

liberty

noun

Definition of liberty for English Language Learners

: the state or condition of people who are able to act and speak freely
: the power to do or choose what you want to
: a political right

LIBERTY Defined for Kids

liberty

noun lib·er·ty \ ˈli-bər-tē \

Definition of liberty for Students

plural liberties

1 :the state of being free :freedom

2 :freedom to do as desired

Give the child some liberty.

3 :the state of not being busy :leisure

4 :a political right Don't take your liberties for granted.

5 :an action that is too free

The movie takes liberties with the truth.

— at liberty

:able to act or speak freely

I'm not at liberty to discuss the project.

Law Dictionary

liberty

noun lib·er·ty

legal Definition of liberty

plural liberties

1 a :freedom from external (as governmental) restraint, compulsion, or interference in engaging in the pursuits or conduct of one's choice to the extent that they are lawful and not harmful to others

b :enjoyment of the rights enjoyed by others in a society free of arbitrary or unreasonable limitation or interference

2 :freedom from physical restraint

3 :freedom from subjection to the will of another claiming ownership or services

4 :right