Give Your Language Free Rein With These Synonyms For “Freedom”

Get out the fireworks because it is the Fourth of July! The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is a time when we Americans celebrate our freedom. Freedom is “the state of not being confined or restricted.” Freedom can also mean “the power to do something without interference or resistance.” A person who has freedom is free.

On the Fourth of July, we celebrate both definitions. Officially, the holiday marks the anniversary of America’s freedom from the control of Great Britain when it declared itself a free country on July 4, 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. However, the Fourth of July also is the time we celebrate our numerous freedoms as American citizens, such as our freedoms of speech and religion.

In honor of the holiday, let’s explore some other great words that we can use to describe freedom.

independence

The word independence means “the state of being independent.” Independent is an adjective that means “not controlled by others” or “not subject to another’s authority.” In both senses, independence is a perfect synonym for freedom, which is why Independence Day is the perfect occasion to celebrate our freedom.

The name of Independence Day again refers to the moment when America freed itself from the control of Great Britain. However, independence can refer to so much more than politics: children often seek independence from their parents. Employees are encouraged to practice independence at work. Some freelance workers value independence over working for a single company. The list goes on!

Let your independent spirit wander over to this article on Independence Day!

liberty

We have come to another beloved word from American history, and it is easy to see why. If you look up the word liberty in our dictionary, you will see it is a huge fan of freedom, too. Some definitions of liberty include “freedom from a despotic government,” “freedom from foreign rule,” and “freedom from captivity.”

Given how well the words liberty and freedom go together, it is no surprise that the Statue of Liberty is cherished as an American icon and national treasure.

liberation

The word liberation looks a lot like the word liberty (they have similar Latin origins) and shares its love of freedom. Liberation can either mean the literal act of becoming free from bondage or control or “the act or fact of gaining equal rights or full social or economic opportunities for a particular group.”

This second definition is especially important in modern America because it is essential to our democracy that all groups have equal freedoms, and that no one is denied freedoms based on their membership in a particular group.

emancipation

The word emancipation means “the act of emancipating” or “the state of being emancipated.” Emancipate is a verb that means “to free from restraint” or “to free from bondage or slavery.”

In America, the word emancipation is often used to refer to slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation, which would bring an end to slavery in the United States. In this sense, emancipation refers to freedom from being a slave and a person having the freedom to live their life as a free human being.

autonomy

Autonomy is “independence or freedom, as of the will or one’s actions.” The adjective form of autonomy is autonomous.

Typically, we use the word autonomy to refer to people or things who can make their own decisions and act independently from another’s control. For example, a government that has autonomy isn’t controlled by another nation and a machine that has autonomy can function without a human controlling it or telling it what to do.

sovereignty

Like many of the words on this list, sovereignty is often used to refer to international politics. The word sovereignty means “having supreme power or authority.” The adjective form of sovereignty is sovereign. A person or group who has supreme authority is also called a sovereign.

A country or nation that has sovereignty has the supreme power over the people and things within its borders. This means that it is not under the control of another country and has the freedom to enact its own laws and policies independent of all other countries.

Do you know the difference between reign and rein? Learn which one has the most control here.

right

The word right can mean “that which is due to anyone by just claim, legal guarantees, moral principles, etc.” If someone has the right to do something, they have the freedom to do it without fear of being stopped or denied by someone else.

This sense of right is often used to refer to the freedoms that Americans are granted to them by the Constitution. For example, freedom of speech is a right that all Americans have; Americans can say (almost) anything they want without the government punishing them or silencing them.

opportunity

The word opportunity means “a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal.”

Opportunity often goes hand in hand with freedom because a person who isn’t controlled or restricted by someone or something can do whatever they need to do to pursue their goals and dreams.

power

The word power means “ability to do or act.”

A person who enjoys freedom has significantly more power than one who doesn’t. Obviously, being under the control or authority of someone will significantly lessen a person’s ability to do whatever they want or to act in certain ways.

self-determination

Self-determination is “freedom to live as one chooses, or to act or decide without consulting another or others.”

As you can see, the word self-determination is another lover of freedom. If you have been reading all of the words on this list so far, you probably aren’t surprised to learn that the word self-determination is often used in government and international politics. In particular, this word is often used to describe citizens who demand the right to decide what form their government should have.

self-empowerment

The term self-empowerment refers to a person controlling their own life and making their own choices.

Like many of the other terms on this list, freedom is essential to self-empowerment. If a person is not free to make their own choices or live the life they want, achieving self-empowerment will be very difficult or impossible.

agency

Agency is “the capacity to act or exert power.”

Once again, you can’t have agency if you don’t have freedom. A person cannot act independently or make their own life choices if they are under the authority or control of someone else. Like most of the words on this list, the word agency is often used when a person or group feels their freedom is being restricted or denied by someone else.

More words to free the wordsmith within

Don’t think these words are the only ones you can use to express your love of freedom on Independence Day. No, you must free yourself from the limits of your vocabulary and breathe the sweet air of freedom that comes with being a linguistically liberated person! Check out this list of other words you can use to talk about freedom.