freedom

freedom [frē′dəm]

n.

[ME fredom < OE freodom: see FREE & -DOM]

1. the state or quality of being free; esp.,

a) exemption or liberation from the control of some other person or some arbitrary power; liberty; independence

b) exemption from arbitrary restrictions on a specified civil right; civil or political liberty [freedom of speech]

c) exemption or immunity from a specified obligation, discomfort, etc. [freedom from want]

d) exemption or release from imprisonment

e) a being able to act, move, use, etc. without hindrance or restraint [to have the freedom of the house]

f) a being able of itself to choose or determine action freely [freedom of the will]

g) ease of movement or performance; facility

h) a being free from the usual rules, patterns, etc.

i) frankness or easiness of manner; sometimes, an excessive frankness or familiarity

2. a right or privilege

SYN.- FREEDOM, the broadest in scope of these words, implies the absence of hindrance, restraint, confinement, or repression [freedom of speech ]; LIBERTY, often interchangeable with FREEDOM, strictly connotes past or potential restriction, repression, etc. [civil liberties]; LICENSE implies freedom that consists in violating the usual rules, laws, or practices, either by consent [poetic license] or as an abuse of liberty [slander is license of the tongue ] -ANT. REPRESSION, CONSTRAINT