freedom

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

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Freedom

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[edit] Etymology

From Middle English fredom < Old English frēodōm < frēo < Proto-Germanic *frijaz < Proto-Indo-European *prijos- (“‘dear, beloved’”); plus Old English -dōm < Proto-Germanic *domaz < Proto-Indo-European *dhe- (“‘to set, put’”). Also see free, -dom.

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• frē'dəm, /ˈfriːdəm/

[edit] Noun

freedom (countable and uncountable; plural freedoms)

1. (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.

2. (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

• liberty
• license
• exemption

[edit] Antonyms

• bondage
• constraint

[edit] Derived terms

• economic freedom
• financial freedom
• individual freedom
• political freedom

[edit] Related terms

• unfreedom
• non-freedom

[edit] Translations