emancipation
- 01 C1 Advanced
the act of giving people their freedom, especially from slavery or unfair laws.
the formal act of liberating a group from legal, social, or political subjection, most notably used in the context of the abolition of slavery.
Simple“The document led to the emancipation of thousands of people who were held as slaves.”
In context“The Emancipation Proclamation served as a pivotal legal instrument during the American Civil War, fundamentally altering the legal status of millions.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general concept of freedom.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the process of becoming free from someone else's control or from old-fashioned ideas.
the state of being freed from controlling influences, prejudices, or traditional social constraints.
Simple“The invention of the bicycle contributed to the social emancipation of women in the nineteenth century.”
In context“Modern digital tools have facilitated the economic emancipation of workers in remote regions, allowing them to bypass traditional local gatekeepers.”
Teacher's tipWhile sense 1 is often historical and legal, sense 2 is common in sociology and discussions about personal growth or social progress.
SynonymsAntonymsdependencesubjection
1630, from French émancipation, from Latin ēmancipātiō. In the US, with reference to anti-slavery, abolitionism, first used in 1785 by Charles Godfrey Leland. In Britain, with reference to easing of restrictions on Catholics, in 19th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.