liberty

Etymology

From Middle English liberte, from Old French liberté, from Latin libertas (“freedom”), from liber (“free”); see liberal.

noun

1. The condition of being free from control or restrictions.
   The army is here, your liberty is assured.
   But as the philosopher Isaiah Berlin sagely pointed out, liberty for wolves means death to lambs. 2010, Naomi Oreskes, Erik M. Conway, quoting Isaiah Berlin, chapter 5, in Merchants of Doubt
   [Edmund] Burke continued to fight for liberty later on in life. He backed Americans in their campaign for freedom from British taxation. He supported Catholic freedoms and freer trade with Ireland, in spite of his constituents’ ire. He wanted more liberal laws on the punishment of debtors. 2014-07-05, “Freedom fighter”, in The Economist, volume 412, number 8894
2. The condition of being free from imprisonment, slavery or forced labour.
   The prisoners gained their liberty from an underground tunnel.
3. The condition of being free to act, believe or express oneself as one chooses.
   Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
4. Freedom from excessive government control.
   The threat of terrorism to the British lies in the overreaction to it of British governments. Each one in turn clicks up the ratchet of surveillance, intrusion and security. Each one diminishes liberty. 2012-12-14, Simon Jenkins, “We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 2, page 23
5. A short period when a sailor is allowed ashore.
   We're going on a three-day liberty as soon as we dock.
6. (often plural) A breach of social convention.
   You needn't take such liberties.
7. (historical) A local division of government administration in medieval England.
8. (game of Go) An empty space next to a group of stones of the same color.