Translate liberty | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of liberty
noun (plural liberties)
1the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views:compulsory retirement would interfere with individual liberty (usually
liberties)
an instance of this; a right or privilege, especially a statutory one:the Bill of Rights was intended to secure basic civil liberties the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved:people who have lost property or liberty without due process (
Liberty)
the personification of liberty as a female figure.
2the power or scope to act as one pleases:individuals should enjoy the liberty to pursue their own interests and preferences Philosophy a person’s freedom from control by fate or necessity. informal a presumptuous remark or action:how did he know what she was thinking?—it was a liberty! Nautical shore leave granted to a sailor.
Phrases
-
1not imprisoned:he was at liberty for three months before he was recaptured
2allowed or entitled to do something:competent adults are generally at liberty to refuse medical treatment
-
1behave in an unduly familiar manner toward a person:you’ve taken too many liberties with me
2treat something freely, without strict faithfulness to the facts or to an original:the scriptwriter has taken few liberties with the original narrative
-
