emancipation

UK: /ɪˌmænsɪˈpeɪʃ^ən/

US: /ɪˌmænsəˈpeɪʃən/

US: (i man′sə pā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

e•man•ci•pa•tion  (i man′sə pā′shən), n. 

1. the act of emancipating.
2. the state or fact of being emancipated.

• Latin ēmancipātiōn- (stem of ēmancipātiō), equivalent. to ēmancipāt(us) (see emancipate) + -iōn- -ion
• 1625–35

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

e•man•ci•pate /ɪˈmænsəˌpeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -pat•ed, -pat•ing. 

1. to make (someone) free from social, political, or legal restraint; set free;
   liberate:
   to emancipate slaves.

e•man•ci•pa•tion /ɪˌmænsəˈpeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]
e•man•ci•pa•tor, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

e•man•ci•pate  (i man′sə pāt′), v.t., -pat•ed, -pat•ing. 

1. to free from restraint, influence, or the like.
2. to free (a slave) from bondage.
3. Law [Roman and Civil Law.] to terminate paternal control over.

• Latin ēmancipātus (past participle of ēmancipāre) freed from control, equivalent. to ē- e- + man(us) hand + -cip- (combining form of capere to seize) + -ātus -ate¹
• 1615–25

e•man′ci•pa′tive, adj. 
e•man′ci•pa′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1, 2. See release.