liberty
n. C / Un. freedom to live as you choose without being unfairly controlled by an authority. You also use this word to talk about specific legal rights, like the freedom of speech.
n. freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control. Frequently refers to specific rights or privileges granted to citizens within a society.
The new laws were seen as a threat to personal liberty.
The protesters marched through the capital, demanding greater political liberty and an end to government censorship.
Philosophers have long debated the tension between individual liberty and the collective security required to maintain a functioning, stable society.
Uncountable when referring to the abstract concept of freedom; countable when describing specific rights or privileges granted by a governing body.