liberation

UK: /ˌlɪbəˈreɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən/ ,(lib′ə rā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lib•er•a•tion  (lib′ə rā′shən), n. 

1. the act of liberating or the state of being liberated.
2. Sociology the act or fact of gaining equal rights or full social or economic opportunities for a particular group.

• Latin līberātiōn- (stem of līberātiō), equivalent. to līberāt(us) (see liberate) + -iōn- -ion
• late Middle English 1400–50

lib′er•a′tion•ist, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

liberation / ˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən/ noun

1. a liberating or being liberated
2. the seeking of equal status or just treatment for or on behalf of any group believed to be discriminated against: women's liberation, animal liberation

ˌliberˈationist noun , adjective

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

lib•er•ate /ˈlɪbəˌreɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to set free, as from imprisonment.
2. to free (a nation or area) from control by a foreign or oppressive government.
3. Sociology to free (a group or individual) from social or economic discrimination, esp. arising from traditional role expectations or bias.
4. Slang Terms [Informal.] to steal or take over illegally:
   The prisoners liberated several shipments of chocolate.

lib•er•a•tion /ˌlɪbəˈreɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]
lib•er•a•tor, n. [countable] See -liber-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lib•er•ate  (lib′ə rāt′), v.t., -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to set free, as from imprisonment or bondage.
2. to free (a nation or area) from control by a foreign or oppressive government.
3. Sociology to free (a group or individual) from social or economic constraints or discrimination, esp. arising from traditional role expectations or bias.
4. to disengage; set free from combination, as a gas.
5. Slang Terms to steal or take over illegally:
   The soldiers liberated a consignment of cigarettes.

• Latin līberātus (past participle of līberāre to free), equivalent. to līberā- verb, verbal stem + -tus past participle suffix. See liberal, -ate¹
• 1615–25

lib′er•a′tive, lib•er•a•to•ry  (lib′ər ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj.  lib′er•a′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. deliver, unfetter, disenthrall, loose. See release. 

Antonyms

• 1. imprison; enthrall.