Word
liberty
Phoneticslib·er·ty
US/ˈɫɪbɝˌti/
UK/lˈɪbəti/
Definitions
01freedom from control
n. the power or right to do as you want without being controlled by a government or other people.
n. the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behaviour, or political views.
“The people fought for their liberty and the right to vote for their own leaders.”
“The new constitution was designed to protect individual liberty against the potential overreach of a centralized government.”
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02not in prison
n. the state of not being in prison or under the control of someone else.
n. the condition of being free from physical imprisonment, servitude, or forced labour.
“After ten years in jail, the prisoner finally regained his liberty.”
“The legal team argued that the defendant's right to personal liberty had been violated by his prolonged detention without a formal trial.”
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03taking a liberty
n. doing something that is a bit rude or goes beyond what is usually allowed.
n. an act or statement that oversteps the boundaries of propriety or social convention.
“It's a bit of a liberty to use my car without asking me first.”
“The biographer was criticized for taking liberties with the facts to make the story more dramatic for the readers.”
British English · Informal
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'to take a liberty' or 'to take liberties'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
04shore leave
n. a short time when a sailor is allowed to leave their ship and go onto the land.
n. a period of authorized absence from a naval vessel or station, typically for recreation.
“The sailors were granted liberty for the weekend while the ship was in port.”
“After three months at sea, the crew was eager for liberty in the vibrant coastal city.”
Technical
Usage
Usually uncountable in this context.
Real-World Examples
“Under Warren’s leadership, the court had strengthened the protections in the Bill of Rights , required states to fully recognize them and ushered in many of the rights and liberties we know today.” “Silkie Carlo, the director of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, has called for Sainsbury's to scrap the technology, arguing that it is "treating customers like criminals".” “Convincing, yes, but significantly short of the 72% won by David Davis in 2008 when he resigned his seat and stood again as a protest over the issue of civil liberties.” Word family
Idioms
take liberties — To act on one's own authority, without asking for permission.
take the liberty — To act on one's own authority, without asking for permission.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/liberty