free·dom (fr  d m)n. 1. The condition of being free of restraints. 2. Liberty of the person from slavery, detention, or oppression. 3. a. Political independence. b. Exemption from the arbitrary exercise of authority in the performance of a specific action; civil liberty: freedom of assembly. 4. Exemption from an unpleasant or onerous condition: freedom from want. 5. The capacity to exercise choice; free will: We have the freedom to do as we please all afternoon. 6. Ease or facility of movement: loose sports clothing, giving the wearer freedom. 7. Frankness or boldness; lack of modesty or reserve: the new freedom in movies and novels. 8. a. The right to unrestricted use; full access: was given the freedom of their research facilities. b. The right of enjoying all of the privileges of membership or citizenship: the freedom of the city. 9. A right or the power to engage in certain actions without control or interference: "the seductive freedoms and excesses of the picaresque form" (John W. Aldridge). [Middle English fredom, from Old English fr od m : fro, free; see free + -dm, -dom.]Synonyms: freedom, liberty, license These nouns refer to the power to act, speak, or think without externally imposed restraints. Freedom is the most general term: "In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free" (Abraham Lincoln). Liberty stresses the power of free choice: "liberty, perfect liberty, to think, feel, do just as one pleases" (William Hazlitt). License sometimes denotes deliberate deviation from normally applicable rules or practices to achieve a desired effect: poetic license. Frequently, though, it denotes undue freedom: "the intolerable license with which the newspapers break . . . the rules of decorum" (Edmund Burke). |
freedom
Noun
1. the state of being free, esp. to enjoy political and civil liberties
2. exemption or immunity: freedom from government control
3. liberation, such as from slavery
4. the right or privilege of unrestricted access: freedom of the skies
5. self-government or independence
6. the power to order one's own actions
7. ease or frankness of manner
Freedom
independent self-rule free from outside influence.
a doctrine of or belief in social equality or the right of all people to participate equally in politics.
Rare. a strong desire for freedom.
an abnormal fear of freedom.
1. a condition of freedom.
2. a right or privilege, especially the right to vote.
2. a right or privilege, especially the right to vote.
1. the advocacy of freedom, especially in thought or conduct.
2. Theology. the advocacy of the doctrine of free will. See also necessitarianism. — libertarian, n., adj.
2. Theology. the advocacy of the doctrine of free will. See also necessitarianism. — libertarian, n., adj.
1. the destruction of freedom.
2. the destroyer of freedom. — liberticidal, adj.
2. the destroyer of freedom. — liberticidal, adj.
the act of setting free or being set free from slavery; emancipation.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  freedom - the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraintsstate - the way something is with respect to its main attributes; "the current state of knowledge"; "his state of health"; "in a weak financial state" academic freedom - the freedom of teachers and students to express their ideas in school without religious or political or institutional restrictions enfranchisement - freedom from political subjugation or servitude blank check, free hand - freedom to do as you see fit; "many have doubts about giving him a free hand to attack" free rein, play - the removal of constraints; "he gave free rein to his impulses"; "they gave full play to the artist's talent" freedom of the seas - the right of merchant ships to travel freely in international waters independence, independency - freedom from control or influence of another or others liberty - freedom of choice; "liberty of opinion"; "liberty of worship"; "liberty--perfect liberty--to think or feel or do just as one pleases"; "at liberty to choose whatever occupation one wishes" civil liberty, political liberty - one's freedom to exercise one's rights as guaranteed under the laws of the country liberty - personal freedom from servitude or confinement or oppression svoboda - (Russia) freedom |
| 2. | freedom - immunity from an obligation or duty immunity, unsusceptibility - the state of not being susceptible; "unsusceptibility to rust" amnesty - a period during which offenders are exempt from punishment diplomatic immunity - exemption from taxation or normal processes of law that is offered to diplomatic personnel in a foreign country indemnity - legal exemption from liability for damages impunity - exemption from punishment or loss grandfather clause - an exemption based on circumstances existing prior to the adoption of some policy; used to enfranchise illiterate whites in south after the American Civil War |
freedom
noun 1. independence, democracy, sovereignty, autonomy, self-determination, emancipation, self-government, home rule, autarchy, rangatiratanga N.Z.
noun 4. licence, latitude, a free hand, free rein, play, power, range, opportunity, ability, facility, scope, flexibility, discretion, leeway, carte blanche, blank cheque, elbowroom << OPPOSITE restriction
noun 5. openness, ease, directness, naturalness, abandon, familiarity, candour, frankness, informality, casualness, ingenuousness, lack of restraint or reserve, unconstraint << OPPOSITE restraint
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