ENGLISH
REFERENCE

liberation

n. C / U
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˌɫɪˌbɝˈeɪʃən// UK //lˌɪbəɹˈeɪʃən// lib·er·a·tion Humorous

n. the act of setting someone or something free from control or limits. You use this when talking about people getting their rights or being released from prison.

n. the act of setting someone free from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression; release from social or conventional constraints. Often used in political contexts regarding the granting of equal rights to a specific group.


SIMPLE

The people celebrated their liberation from the cruel leader.

CONTEXTUAL

The liberation of the city brought an end to years of military occupation and restored local governance.

COMPLEX

Historians often debate whether the sudden liberation of the markets led to genuine economic growth or merely created a vacuum for new forms of exploitation.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French libération, and from Latin liberatio, liberationem (“a freeing”), from liberare past participle liberatus (“set free”); see liberate. Equivalent to liberate + -ion.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the abstract concept of freedom; countable when referring to specific historical events or movements.

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