liberty

noun

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lib·er·ty | \ ˈli-bər-tē

plural liberties

Definition of liberty

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 sense 1) control

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

e : the power of choice

2a : 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

Liberty

geographical name

Lib·er·ty | \ ˈli-bər-tē

Definition of Liberty (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More About liberty

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Choose the Right Synonym for liberty

Noun

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

Examples of liberty in a Sentence

Noun 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 on the Web: Noun For these North Korean defectors, the road to liberty was paved in denim. — New York Times, 4 Aug. 2021 There is no justification for restricting the liberty of vaccinated people in order to protect people who have willingly chosen to remain unvaccinated. — Brad Polumbo, National Review, 4 Aug. 2021 But what really should concern the citizenry is that the fearful government disease doctor might have been referring to constitutional liberty. — James Freeman, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2021 Chefs, of course, have taken liberty with the soft-poached egg yolk with cream, sherry vinegar and maple syrup all served inside the shell. — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2021 For all the anti-vaxxers’ talk of liberty and personal freedom, the nature of pandemics and infectious diseases mean that everyone else is forced to suffer for their short-sightedness. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, 30 July 2021 Though the court ruled in favor of the bakery, the decision did not settle larger constitutional questions about religious liberty. — Leah Asmelash, CNN, 29 July 2021 Scalia and the court effectively reversed a landmark religious-liberty decision called Sherbert v. Verner, written in 1963 by the liberal Justice William Brennan. — Noah Feldman Bloomberg Opinion, Star Tribune, 27 July 2021 That was the case in 2015 during our work on nondiscrimination and religious liberty. — Matt Canham, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 July 2021

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.

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Dictionary Entries Near liberty

libertinism

liberty

Liberty

Statistics for liberty

Last Updated

7 Aug 2021

Cite this Entry

“Liberty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberty. Accessed 9 Aug. 2021.

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More Definitions for liberty

liberty

noun

English Language Learners Definition of liberty

: 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

See the full definition for liberty in the English Language Learners Dictionary

liberty

noun

lib·er·ty | \ ˈli-bər-tē

plural liberties

Kids Definition of liberty

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.

liberty

noun

lib·er·ty

plural liberties

Legal Definition of liberty

1a : 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 the right to a fair trial is a fundamental liberty secured by the Fourteenth Amendment— W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel