# freedom

/ˈfɹidəm/ (US) · /fɹˈiːdəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/freedom
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. general liberty

noun · CEFR A2

the state of being free to act, speak, or think without being controlled by others.

For teachers: the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Uncountable in this general sense.

- After years of living with his parents, he finally enjoyed the freedom of having his own apartment.
- The new constitution was designed to protect individual freedom against the potential overreach of a centralized government.

### 2. a specific right

noun · CEFR B1

a particular right to do something, like the freedom of speech.

For teachers: a specific legal or social right to act in a certain way without interference. Often countable when referring to specific civil liberties.

- Freedom of the press is a very important part of a healthy democracy.
- The high court ruled that the new legislation infringed upon the fundamental freedoms guaranteed to every citizen.

### 3. lack of constraints

noun · CEFR B2

the state of not being limited by something, like rules or physical objects.

For teachers: the state of being unconstrained or not subject to a particular negative condition. Often takes the preposition 'from'.

- The new software gives users the freedom to change the layout however they like.
- The patient celebrated her freedom from pain after the successful surgery allowed her to walk unaided for the first time in years.

### 4. unrestricted access

noun · CEFR B2

the right to use a place or a thing whenever you want.

For teachers: the right or privilege of unrestricted use of or access to a place or facility.

- The children were given the freedom of the garden while their parents talked inside.
- As a senior researcher, she was granted the freedom of the archives, allowing her to examine rare manuscripts without supervision.

### 5. improper familiarity

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

acting too friendly or informal in a way that might be rude.

For teachers: an act of familiarity that exceeds the bounds of propriety or social decorum. Usually plural in this sense.

- He apologized for taking liberties and using such freedoms with his host's personal belongings.
- The diplomat was criticized for taking certain freedoms with protocol that were deemed inappropriate for such a formal occasion.

## Examples

- People fought hard for their freedom.
- The new policy gives workers the freedom to choose their own hours and work from home.
- The constitution guarantees fundamental freedoms, ensuring that citizens can express dissenting political views without fear of state-sponsored retaliation or censorship.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.