liberty meaning

liberty as a noun

1. immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence

   Synonyms: autonomy

   Type of: independence

   Kinds: self-government

   Related forms: liberate

2. 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

   Type of: freedom

   Kinds: license, latitude, discretion, run

   Related forms: liberate

3. personal freedom from servitude or confinement or oppression

   Type of: freedom

   Related forms: liberate

4. leave granted to a sailor or naval officer

   Synonyms: shore leave

   Type of: leave

5. an act of undue intimacy

   Synonyms: familiarity, impropriety, indecorum

   Type of: misbehavior

liberty in a sentence

• The new law has deprived the citizens of their liberty.
• I took the liberty of calling him by his first name.
• The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.
• I'm not at liberty to tell you about the incident.
• Personal liberty is diminishing nowadays.

How to pronounce liberty

liberty is pronounced /ˈlɪbəti/ in British English and /ˈlɪbɚti/ in American English. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.