liberated
LIB-uh-ray-tid
/ˈlɪbəreɪtɪd/
Freed from imprisonment, slavery, or social conventions.
Implies a transition from a state of restriction to a state of freedom.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'liberare', meaning 'to set free'. This root also gives us 'liberty' and 'library' (though the latter comes from 'liber' meaning 'book', a different Latin word).
Word relationships
- emancipated: Emancipated is more formal and often refers to legal or systemic freedom.
- oppressed: Oppressed implies being kept down by cruel or unjust power.
Commonly confused with
- liberal: Liberal refers to a political ideology or being generous; liberated refers to being set free.
Word family
- liberate (verb): To set someone free.
- liberation (noun): The act of setting someone free.
Collocations
- liberated territory
- feel liberated
- liberated woman
Example sentences
- "The invention of the bicycle was seen as a liberated force for women in the 19th century." Social Change
- "The city was liberated after months of occupation." Military History
Memory hook
Liberated people go to the Library to use their free minds. Set free.
When not to use
Don't use for things that were never restricted; use 'free' instead.
Fun facts
- In the 1960s and 70s, 'liberated' became a buzzword for breaking away from traditional gender roles.
Related words
Explore more words
freedom, Liberty, unconventional, uninhibited, arrest, latitude
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