liberty noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of liberty noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

liberty

noun
 
/ˈlɪbəti/
 
/ˈlɪbərti/
(plural liberties)
Idioms
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  1. [uncountable] freedom to live as you choose without too many limits from government or authority
    • the fight for justice and liberty
    • The concept of individual liberty is enshrined in the constitution.
    Extra Examples
    • Our personal liberty is being eroded.
    • The law should protect the liberty of the individual.
    • The new legislation threatens individual liberty.
    • The system allows us complete liberty to do the task as we like.
    • Women are demanding greater liberty for themselves.
    • liberty from the abuse of police power
    • The Turkish government has fought to uphold religious liberty.
    • He claimed that the order was an unjustified infringement of his liberty.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • complete
    • basic
    verb + liberty
    • enjoy
    • have
    • demand
    preposition
    • at liberty
    • liberty for
    • liberty from
    phrases
    • an infringement of liberty
    • loss of liberty
    • a threat to liberty
    See full entry
  2. [uncountable] the state of not being a prisoner or a slave
    • He had to endure six months' loss of liberty.
    Extra Examples
    • The city won its liberty in the 16th century.
    • If found guilty, she is in danger of losing her liberty.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • complete
    • basic
    verb + liberty
    • enjoy
    • have
    • demand
    preposition
    • at liberty
    • liberty for
    • liberty from
    phrases
    • an infringement of liberty
    • loss of liberty
    • a threat to liberty
    See full entry
  3. [countable] the legal right and freedom to do something
    • The right to vote should be a liberty enjoyed by all.
    • People fear that security cameras could infringe personal liberties.
    see also civil liberty
    Extra Examples
    • a citizens' charter which gives people basic civil liberties
    • This is a gross infringement of our civil liberties.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • complete
    • basic
    verb + liberty
    • enjoy
    • have
    • demand
    preposition
    • at liberty
    • liberty for
    • liberty from
    phrases
    • an infringement of liberty
    • loss of liberty
    • a threat to liberty
    See full entry
  4. [singular] an act or a statement that may offend or annoy somebody, especially because it is done without permission or does not show respect
    • He took the liberty of reading my files while I was away.
  5. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French liberte, from Latin libertas, from liber ‘free’.
Idioms
at liberty
  1. (formal) (of a prisoner or an animal) no longer in prison or in a cage
    • The escaped prisoner has been at liberty for five days.
    synonym free
at liberty to do something
  1. (formal) having the right or freedom to do something synonym free
    • You are at liberty to say what you like.
    • I am not at liberty to discuss my client’s case.
take liberties with somebody/something
  1. to make important and unreasonable changes to something, especially a book
    • The movie takes considerable liberties with the novel that it is based on.
  2. (old-fashioned) to be too friendly with somebody, especially in a sexual way
    • He’s always taking liberties with the secretaries.
See liberty in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee liberty in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
previously
adverb
 
 
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