freedom

/ˈfriːdəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfriːdəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfrē-dəm/ (ame, mw)

freedom — noun

  • freedomsingular
  • freedomsplural

1. The ability to say, believe, or do as you please, with no one holding you back o

1.名詞B1
釋義

The ability to say, believe, or do as you please, with no one holding you back or keeping you under their control.

例句

The protesters demanded the freedom to express their political views openly.

freedom to + infinitive

Quan believes every child deserves the freedom to choose their own career path.

freedom to + infinitive

同義詞
  • liberty

    More formal; often used in political or philosophical contexts

  • autonomy

    Refers specifically to self-governance or independence in decision-making

  • self-determination

    The right of a group or person to decide their own future

反義詞

文法句型

freedom to + infinitive

freedom of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Usually uncountable in this sense. Common patterns include freedom to + infinitive (freedom to choose) and freedom of + noun (freedom of speech).

常見錯誤

❌I have a freedom to choose my own clothes.
✅I have the freedom to choose my own clothes.
💡Freedom is uncountable and takes the definite article in this pattern.
❌The country gained freedom from colonizers.' (when referring to personal liberty)
✅The country gained independence from colonizers.
💡For nations, independence is more precise than freedom.

2. A legal or political right that allows people to act according to their own beli

2.名詞B2
釋義

A legal or political right that allows people to act according to their own beliefs and to be involved in how their country is run, without being controlled by a foreign power or an unfair government.

例句

After years of struggle, the nation finally achieved freedom from colonial rule.

freedom from + noun (external control)

Sivan marched alongside thousands of others demanding basic civil freedoms.

countable plural: freedoms

同義詞
反義詞
  • tyranny

    Cruel and oppressive government rule

  • oppression

    Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment

文法句型

freedoms (plural)

civil/political freedoms

用法筆記

Often used in the plural (freedoms) when listing specific rights, such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, or freedom of religion. Distinguish from sense 1, which refers to the general concept of liberty rather than specific legal entitlements.

常見錯誤

❌The citizens want more freedom of speech.' (vague)
✅The citizens are demanding their constitutional right to freedom of speech.
💡This sense is about specific legal rights, not just the general idea.

3. The situation where a person is no longer kept in prison, slavery, or any other

3.名詞B2
釋義

The situation where a person is no longer kept in prison, slavery, or any other kind of confinement.

例句

The hostage was finally given back her freedom after six long months.

collocation: given back (one's) freedom

Emma dreamed of the day she would walk out of the prison gates to freedom.

同義詞
  • liberation

    More formal; the act of setting someone free

  • release

    Focuses on the moment of being let out

  • deliverance

    Formal or literary; rescue from danger or bondage

反義詞
  • imprisonment

    The state of being kept in prison

  • captivity

    The condition of being held as a prisoner

  • slavery

    The state of being owned by another person

文法句型

gain/win/regain (one's) freedom

be set free

用法筆記

Often appears in the phrases regain one's freedom, win one's freedom, or set someone free. This sense contrasts with sense 1, which is about liberty in general rather than release from physical confinement.

常見錯誤

❌The bird flew out of the cage to its freedom.
✅The bird flew out of the cage to freedom.
💡No possessive pronoun needed after 'to' in this idiomatic usage.

4. A special honour given by a particular city to someone, usually a famous or resp

4.名詞C2
釋義

A special honour given by a particular city to someone, usually a famous or respected person, as a way of showing admiration and giving them special ceremonial rights within that city.

例句

The mayor presented Faisal with the freedom of the city for his charity work.

set phrase: freedom of the city

Only a handful of people have ever been granted the freedom of London.

同義詞

文法句型

freedom of the city/town

用法筆記

Always appears in the fixed phrase freedom of the city (or town). This is a ceremonial honour with no practical legal power in modern times. The right to graze sheep or drive cattle across city bridges is a traditional privilege, not a real benefit.

5. The situation where something unpleasant — such as pain, worry, fear, or pressur

5.名詞B2
釋義

The situation where something unpleasant — such as pain, worry, fear, or pressure — no longer troubles you or limits how you live.

例句

The weekly yoga class gave Hassan a feeling of freedom from daily stress.

freedom from + noun (abstract)

Defne enjoyed the freedom from homework during the summer holiday break.

同義詞
  • exemption

    Official permission not to do something; more formal and legal

  • immunity

    Protection from something harmful; often used in legal/medical contexts

  • relief

    The feeling of being freed from something unpleasant

反義詞
  • exposure

    Being subjected to something unpleasant

  • affliction

    Something that causes pain or suffering

文法句型

freedom from + noun phrase (something unwanted)

用法筆記

Always followed by from + a noun phrase referring to something negative or burdensome. The preposition from is essential — freedom of pain is incorrect; it must be freedom from pain. Distinguish from sense 1, where the focus is on the right to act, not on the absence of something unpleasant.

常見錯誤

❌I want freedom of pain.
✅I want freedom from pain.
💡The preposition must be from, not of, when stating what you are released from.
❌He sought freedom from the weekend.
✅He sought freedom from work at the weekend.
💡The noun after from must be something burdensome, not a neutral time period.

6. Permission or the ability to use something, enter a place, or have access to a s

6.名詞B2
釋義

Permission or the ability to use something, enter a place, or have access to a service without any limits or restrictions.

例句

The library offers students freedom of internet access throughout the building.

freedom of + noun (access)

As a member, Maja had freedom to use all the gym's equipment at any hour.

同義詞
反義詞
  • restriction

    A limit or rule that prevents full use

  • ban

    An official prohibition from using something

文法句型

freedom of + noun (access/use/entry)

用法筆記

Typically followed by of + a noun such as access, entry, use, or movement. Unlike sense 5, the object after of is neutral or positive — it names the thing you have permission to use freely, not something you are escaping from.

常見錯誤

❌We have freedom from the pool during our hotel stay.
✅We have freedom of access to the pool during our hotel stay.
💡Use freedom of (not freedom from) for unrestricted use of something.