liberty

noun

lib·​er·​ty ˈli-bər-tē 

plural liberties

1

: the quality or state of being free:

a

: the power to do as one pleases

We don't have the liberty to change our plans on a moment's notice.

b

: freedom from physical restraint

… when the state detains a person, it takes away their liberty, but it cannot deny a person their humanity.

—Meg de Ronde

c

: freedom from arbitrary or despotic (see despot sense 1) control

The new memorial … honors the nearly five million Americans who fought for liberty overseas.

—Alana Austin

d(1)

: the enjoyment of the same social, political, or economic rights and privileges enjoyed by others in a society free of arbitrary or unreasonable limitation or interference

our constitutional right to liberty

(2)

: freedom from being held in slavery

… had attested his love of liberty by escaping from slavery and making his way through many dangers to Rochester …

—Frederick Douglass

These black men, perhaps a thousand strong, were fired by a common purpose: to wrest liberty from the white slavocracy.

—James MacGregor Burns

e

: the power of choice

2

a

: right

The right to a fair trial is a fundamental liberty secured by the Fourteenth Amendment …

—Wayne R. LaFave and Jerold H. Israel

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 departure from rules or standard practice

taking liberties with the language

I took the liberty of approving their request.

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

see also:

at liberty

Synonyms of liberty

• choice
• option
• preference

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

Which, of course, is about a young woman who has this great liberty and wide-open future before her—a grand vision of what may happen in her life—but for whom things close down in a really chilling way. — Victoria Uren, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2026

Justice Samuel Alito raised Colorado's recent record of losses at the Supreme Court in religious liberty cases, in which the high court sided with a Christian baker, website designer and counselor. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Police can keep the tool without sacrificing anyone’s liberty. — Edward Longe, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026

As same-day voters go to the polls for the midterm elections next week, the Supreme Court will hear a major religious liberty case over a Colorado universal preschool program with implications beyond the Centennial State. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English liberte, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French liberté, borrowed from Latin lībertāt-, lībertās "freedom," from līber "free" + -tāt-, -tās -ty — more at liberal entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing liberty

• at liberty
• civil liberty
• liberty cap
• liberty pole
• take the liberty of

Kids Definition

liberty

noun

lib·​er·​ty ˈlib-ərt-ē 

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 Amendment

—W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel

Geographical Definition

Liberty

geographical name

Lib·​er·​ty ˈli-bər-tē 

city in northwestern Missouri north-northeast of Kansas City