- 1[uncountable] freedom to live as you choose without too many restrictions from government or authority the fight for justice and liberty The concept of individual liberty is enshrined in the constitution. Wordfinderfreedomallow, emancipation, freedom, imprisonment, independence, liberty, oppress, restriction, rule, slave Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegreat, complete, basic, … verb + libertyenjoy, have, demand, … prepositionat liberty, liberty for, liberty from, … phrasesan infringement of liberty, loss of liberty, a threat to liberty, … See full entry
- 2[uncountable] the state of not being a prisoner or a slave He had to endure six months' loss of liberty. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegreat, complete, basic, … verb + libertyenjoy, have, demand, … prepositionat liberty, liberty for, liberty from, … phrasesan infringement of liberty, loss of liberty, a threat to liberty, … See full entry
- 3[countable] the legal right and freedom to do something The right to vote should be a liberty enjoyed by all. People fear that security cameras could infringe personal liberties. see also civil liberty Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegreat, complete, basic, … verb + libertyenjoy, have, demand, … prepositionat liberty, liberty for, liberty from, … phrasesan infringement of liberty, loss of liberty, a threat to liberty, … See full entry
- 4[singular] an act or a statement that may offend or annoy somebody, especially because it is done without permission or does not show respect He took the liberty of reading my files while I was away. They've got a liberty, not even sending me a reply. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French liberte, from Latin libertas, from liber ‘free’.Extra examples If found guilty, she is in danger of losing her liberty. Our personal liberty is being eroded. The city won its liberty in the 16th century. The escaped prisoner has been at liberty for five days. The law should protect the liberty of the individual. The new legislation threatens individual liberty. The system allows us complete liberty to do the task as we like. Women are demanding greater liberty for themselves. a citizens’ charter which gives people basic civil liberties liberty from the abuse of police power He claimed that the order was an unjustified infringement of his liberty. The Turkish government has fought to uphold religious liberty. This is a gross infringement of our civil liberties.Idioms
- 1to make important and unreasonable changes to something, especially a book The movie takes considerable liberties with the novel that it is based on.
- 2(old-fashioned) to be too friendly with somebody, especially in a sexual way He’s always taking liberties with the secretaries.
(formal) (of a prisoner or an animal) no longer in prison or in a cage synonym free
(formal) having the right or freedom to do something synonym free You are at liberty to say what you like. I am not at liberty to discuss my client’s case.
Check pronunciation: liberty
