freedom
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Middle English freedom, fredom, from Old English frēodōm (“freedom, state of free-will, charter, emancipation, deliverance”), equivalent to free + -dom. Cognate with North Frisian fridoem (“freedom”), Dutch vrijdom (“freedom”), Low German frīdom (“freedom”), Middle High German vrītuom (“freedom”), Norwegian fridom (“freedom”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
freedom (countable and uncountable; plural freedoms)
- (uncountable) The state of being free, of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
- Having recently been released from prison, he didn't know what to do with his newfound freedom.
- (countable) The lack of a specific constraint, or of constraints in general; a state of being free, unconstrained.
- Freedom of speech is a basic democratic value.
- People in our city enjoy many freedoms.
- Every child has a right to freedom from fear and freedom from want.
[edit] Usage notes
- The phrase "freedom from" can have as an object: fear, want, hunger, pain, disease, stress, depression, debt, poverty, necessity, violence, war, advertising, addiction, etc.
[edit] Synonyms
- The terms below need to be checked and allocated to the definitions (senses) of the headword above. Each term should appear in the sense for which it is appropriate. Use the template {{sense|"gloss"}}, substituting a short version of the definition for "gloss".
[edit] Antonyms
[edit] Derived terms
terms derived from freedom (noun)
[edit] Translations
not being imprisoned or enslaved
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The lack of a specific constraint
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