liberty

noun

lib·​er·​ty ˈli-bər-tē How to pronounce liberty (audio)
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 sense 1) 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
Phrases
at liberty
1
: free
2
: at leisure : unoccupied
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web Thank you President Biden for airdropping food to signal America’s resolve as a nation founded on the principles of liberty for all. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024 The collapse of the fiat money system and the accompanying welfare-warfare state also provide an opportunity for those of us who understand the truth to build a society based around the principles of liberty. Ron Paul, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2024 Indeed, National Review is a rare creature in our media landscape, an independent-minded voice of ordered liberty that isn’t motivated by clicks or ratings. Rich Lowry, National Review, 5 Mar. 2024 Under Elizabethan feudalism this notion was unthinkable if only because none but the royal had the alternatives of seemingly absolute choice, the liberties of the masses being hedged about by all sorts of rigid proscriptions. Andrew Aoyama, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2024 Now, the job market and arduous hiring process is a different story and many are stuck working jobs without the same liberty or leverage. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 The only quibble would involve some creative liberties taken with the book near the end (the author’s daughter, Michael Clavell, is among the producers), which are provocative but not necessarily an improvement. Brian Lowry, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 Yet the new use of this technology echoes past lessons around AI and social media moderation, said Emile Ayoub, counsel in the liberty and national security program with the Brennan Center for Justice, a think-tank. Carey L. Biron, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024 Paradoxically, liberties are valued as protections against the dangers of state power, but these same liberties must ultimately be guaranteed by the state. Raymond Aron, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'liberty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of liberty was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near liberty

Cite this Entry

“Liberty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberty. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

liberty

noun
lib·​er·​ty ˈlib-ərt-ē How to pronounce liberty (audio)
plural liberties
1
: the condition of those who are free and independent : freedom
2
: power to do what one pleases
give the child some liberty
3
: an action that goes beyond normal limits (as of proper behavior or good sense)
took liberties with the truth
4
: a short authorized absence from naval duty

Legal Definition

liberty

noun
lib·​er·​ty
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
the right to a fair trial is a fundamental liberty secured by the Fourteenth AmendmentW. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel

Geographical Definition

Liberty

geographical name

Lib·​er·​ty ˈli-bər-tē How to pronounce Liberty (audio)
city in northwestern Missouri north-northeast of Kansas City population 29,149

More from Merriam-Webster on liberty

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