Definitions for liberty
ˈlɪb ər tilib·er·ty

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. autonomy, liberty(noun)

   immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence

2. liberty(noun)

   freedom of choice

   "liberty of opinion"; "liberty of worship"; "liberty--perfect liberty--to think or feel or do just as one pleases"; "at liberty to choose whatever occupation one wishes"

3. liberty(noun)

   personal freedom from servitude or confinement or oppression

4. shore leave, liberty(noun)

   leave granted to a sailor or naval officer

5. familiarity, impropriety, indecorum, liberty(noun)

   an act of undue intimacy

Wiktionary(4.00 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. liberty(Noun)

   The condition of being free from control or restrictions.

   The army is here, your liberty is assured.

   Etymology: From liberte, from liberte, from libertas, from liber; see liberal.

2. liberty(Noun)

   The condition of being free from imprisonment, slavery or forced labour.

   The prisoners gained their liberty from an underground tunnel.

   Etymology: From liberte, from liberte, from libertas, from liber; see liberal.

3. liberty(Noun)

   The condition of being free to act, believe or express oneself as one chooses.

   The prisoners were at liberty to speak freely with their lawyers.

   Etymology: From liberte, from liberte, from libertas, from liber; see liberal.

4. liberty(Noun)

   Freedom from excess government control.

   Etymology: From liberte, from liberte, from libertas, from liber; see liberal.

5. liberty(Noun)

   A short period when a sailor is allowed ashore.

   We're going on a three-day liberty as soon as we dock.

   Etymology: From liberte, from liberte, from libertas, from liber; see liberal.

6. liberty(Noun)

   A breach of social convention (often liberties).

   You needn't take such liberties.

   Etymology: From liberte, from liberte, from libertas, from liber; see liberal.

7. liberty(Noun)

   A local government unit in medieval England – see liberty.

   Etymology: From liberte, from liberte, from libertas, from liber; see liberal.

Webster Dictionary(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Liberty(noun)

   the state of a free person; exemption from subjection to the will of another claiming ownership of the person or services; freedom; -- opposed to slavery, serfdom, bondage, or subjection

2. Liberty(noun)

   freedom from imprisonment, bonds, or other restraint upon locomotion

3. Liberty(noun)

   a privilege conferred by a superior power; permission granted; leave; as, liberty given to a child to play, or to a witness to leave a court, and the like

4. Liberty(noun)

   privilege; exemption; franchise; immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant; as, the liberties of the commercial cities of Europe

5. Liberty(noun)

   the place within which certain immunities are enjoyed, or jurisdiction is exercised

6. Liberty(noun)

   a certain amount of freedom; permission to go freely within certain limits; also, the place or limits within which such freedom is exercised; as, the liberties of a prison

7. Liberty(noun)

   a privilege or license in violation of the laws of etiquette or propriety; as, to permit, or take, a liberty

8. Liberty(noun)

   the power of choice; freedom from necessity; freedom from compulsion or constraint in willing

9. Liberty(noun)

   a curve or arch in a bit to afford room for the tongue of the horse

10. Liberty(noun)

    leave of absence; permission to go on shore

Freebase(4.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Liberty

   Liberty is the value of individuals to have agency. Different conceptions of liberty articulate the relationship of individuals to society in different ways—including some that relate to life under a social contract or to existence in a state of nature, and some that see the active exercise of freedom and rights as essential to liberty. Understanding liberty involves how we imagine the individual's roles and responsibilities in society in relation to concepts of free will and determinism, which involves the larger domain of metaphysics. Individualist and classical liberal conceptions of liberty typically consist of the freedom of individuals from outside compulsion or coercion, also known as negative liberty. This conception of liberty, which coincides with the libertarian point-of-view, suggests that people should, must, and ought to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions, while in contrast, Social liberal conceptions of liberty place an emphasis upon social structure and agency and is therefore directed toward ensuring egalitarianism. In feudal societies, a "liberty" was an area of allodial land where the rights of the ruler or monarch were waived.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(2.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Liberty

   lib′ėr-ti, n. freedom to do as one pleases: the unrestrained enjoyment of natural rights: power of free choice: privilege: exemption: relaxation of restraint: the bounds within which certain privileges are enjoyed: freedom of speech or action beyond ordinary civility.—ns. Libertā′rian, one who believes in free-will as opposed to necessity; Libertā′rianism, the doctrine of the freedom of the will, as opposed to necessitarianism; Liber′ticide, a destroyer of liberty; Liber′tinage, debauchery; Lib′ertine, formerly one who professed free opinions, esp. in religion: one who leads a licentious life, a rake or debauchee.—adj. belonging to a freedman: unrestrained: licentious.—n. Lib′ertinism, licentiousness of opinion or practice: lewdness or debauchery.—Liberty of indifference, freedom of the will—because before action the will is undetermined as to acting or not acting; Liberty of the press, liberty to print and publish without previous permission from government.—Cap of liberty (see Bonnet rouge, under Bonnet); Religious liberty, the right of thinking about religion or of worshipping as one likes. [Fr.,—L. libertas.]

The Roycroft Dictionary(1.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. liberty

   1. A password in universal use, and hence of no value. 2. The slogan of a party or sect that seeks to enslave some other party or sect. 3. The lost latchkey to the Citadel of Power. 4. The sacred aeroplane of King Ego. 5. The right to go forth unimpeded from any place, and also to come back. 6. The Northwest Passage to Nowhere. 7. The thing Patrick Henry asked for when the bartender asked him what he would have. 8. Only a comparative term. 9. Responsibility--that is why most men dread it.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. liberty

   Permission to go on shore or ship-visiting.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. liberty

   To have freedom.

   Liberty is vital for all human beings.

   Submitted by MaryC on March 11, 2020  

Suggested Resources(2.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. liberty

   Song lyrics by liberty -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by liberty on the Lyrics.com website.

Who Was Who?(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Liberty

   A huge lady who guards New York harbor and welcomes Italy and Poland to the United States.

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'liberty' in Nouns Frequency: #1939

How to pronounce liberty?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say liberty in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of liberty in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of liberty in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of liberty in a Sentence

1. John Blakely:

   We’re going to be continually updating, adding some new things you can do with BB-8. I’m not at liberty to talk about that, but we are definitely working on those things right now.

2. Arnold J. Toynbee:

   The Radical creed, as I understand it, is this: We have not abandoned our old belief in liberty, justice, and Self-help, but we say that under certain conditions the people cannot help themselves, and that then they should be helped by the State representing directly the whole people. In giving this State help, we make three conditions: first, the matter must be one of primary social importance; next, it must be proved to be practicable; thirdly, the State interference must not diminish self-reliance. Even if the chance should arise of removing a great social evil, nothing must be done to weaken those habits of individual self-reliance and voluntary association which have built up the greatness of the English people.

3. Daniel Hannan:

   Our first conversation is not about secularism, we discuss manifestos, the rule of law, personal liberty, common conservative values, campaigning and accountability.

4. Benjamin Franklin:

   They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

5. Vander Plaats:

   To be clear, the meeting is not a fundraiser nor a political rally. It is NOT an endorsement of Donald Trump, nor do I plan to leave the meeting with an endorsement announcement, we'll talk with Mr. Trump about the people he intends to surround himself with, his criteria for Supreme Court nominations, his convictions on life, marriage, religious liberty, and more.

Images & Illustrations of liberty

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