Dictionary / freedom
freedom
- noun
- adjective
- from Old English
The state of being free.
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “freedom” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
noun
- uncountableThe state of being free.
Having recently been released from prison, he didn't know what to do with his newfound freedom.
- countableThe lack of a specific constraint, or of constraints in general; a state of being free, unconstrained.
Freedom of speech is a basic democratic value.
- countableuncountableThe right or privilege of unrestricted use or access
Freedom of a city
- countableuncountableFrankness; openness; unreservedness.
I doubt not, that you will take amiss my freedom; but as you have deserved it from me, I shall be less and less concerned on that score, as I see you are more and more intent to show your wit at the expense of justice and compassion.1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter L”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:
- countableuncountableImproper familiarity; violation of the rules of decorum.
adjective
- UShumorousAmerican, especially in a jingoistic way
freedom freckles
- USderogatoryhumorousUsed to censor a term relating to something perceived as anti-American; especially, to censor French during the Iraq War
freedom fries
Cross-check: WordNet senses (2)
- nounthe condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
- nounimmunity from an obligation or duty — also: exemption
Synonyms: liberty, license, exemption
Antonyms: bondage, constraint, imprisonment, slavery, unfreedom
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)freedom
- Middle Englishfredom
- Old Englishfrēodōm “freedom, state of free-will, charter, emancipation, deliverance”
- Proto-West Germanic*frijadōm “freedom”
From Middle English fredom, freedom, from Old English frēodōm (“freedom, state of free-will, charter, emancipation, deliverance”), from Proto-West Germanic *frijadōm (“freedom”). 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”).
Derivatives — words built from “freedom”
Phrases & compounds
Want to go deeper? See also “freedom” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “freedom” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
freedom n. [AS. fre; frefree + -dom. See Free, and -dom.]
- The state of being free; exemption from the power and control of another; liberty; independence.
- Privileges; franchises; immunities.
- Exemption from necessity, in choise and action; as, the freedom of the will.
- Ease; facility; as, he speaks or acts with freedom.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
nounMeaning: The state of being free.
Having recently been released from prison, he didn't know what to do with his newfound freedom.
However, the next generation of innovators to benefit from this freedom – Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple et al – saw no reason to extend it to anyone else.2024 May 4, John Naughton, “The internet is in decline – it needs rewilding”, in The Guardian:
nounMeaning: 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.
nounMeaning: The right or privilege of unrestricted use or access
Freedom of a city
Yet the wisest princes, who adopted the maxims of Augustus, guarded with the strictest care the dignity of the Roman name, and diffused the freedom of the city with a prudent liberality.1776, Edward Gibbon, “2i”, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC:
nounMeaning: Frankness; openness; unreservedness.
I doubt not, that you will take amiss my freedom; but as you have deserved it from me, I shall be less and less concerned on that score, as I see you are more and more intent to show your wit at the expense of justice and compassion.1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter L”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:
adjectiveMeaning: American, especially in a jingoistic way
freedom freckles
freedom gas
adjectiveMeaning: Used to censor a term relating to something perceived as anti-American; especially, to censor French during the Iraq War
freedom fries
freedom toast
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
freedom
/ˈfɹiːdəm/ · free·dom
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
freedom
/ˈfɹiːdəm/ · free·dom · noun, adjective
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “freedom” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — Which meaning is it?
“Having recently been released from prison, he didn't know what to do with his newfound freedom.”
Circle the meaning used.
“Freedom of speech is a basic democratic value.”
Circle the meaning used.
“Freedom of a city”
Circle the meaning used.
Step 4 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “freedom” and what each means:
Step 5 — Original meaning
The earliest traceable form is Proto-West Germanic *frijadōm. What did it mean?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 6 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — freedom
Which meaning, sentence 1: A. The state of being free.
Which meaning, sentence 2: B. The lack of a specific constraint, or of constraints in general; a state of being free, unconstrained.
Which meaning, sentence 3: C. The right or privilege of unrestricted use or access
Origin: C. Old English (Old English frēodōm)
Journey: English freedom ← Middle English fredom ← Old English frēodōm ← Proto-West Germanic *frijadōm
Some derivatives: antifreedom, enfreedom, freedom-camp, freedomism, Freedomite, freedomless, freedomware, freedumb
Original meaning: Proto-West Germanic *frijadōm — “freedom”
Etymology: From Middle English fredom, freedom, from Old English frēodōm (“freedom, state of free-will, charter, emancipation, deliverance”), from Proto-West Germanic *frijadōm (“freedom”). 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”).
Sources: Wiktionary “freedom” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/freedom#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/freedom