From Middle English fredom, freedom, from Old English frēodōm, from Proto-West Germanic *frijadōm.

• (RP) enPR: frē'dəm, IPA: /ˈfɹiːdəm/
• (America) IPA: /ˈfɹidəm/

freedom

1. (uncountable) The state of being free, of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

   Synonyms: freehood

   Having recently been released from prison, he didn't know what to do with his newfound freedom.

2. (countable) The lack of a specific constraint, or of constraints in general; a state of being free, unconstrained.

   Synonyms: freeness

   Freedom of speech is a basic democratic value.

   People in our city enjoy many freedoms.

   Every child has a right to freedom from fear and freedom from want.

3. The right or privilege of unrestricted use or access

   Freedom of a city

   • 1776, Edward Gibbon, “2i”, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC ↗:

     Yet the wisest princes, who adopted the maxims of Augustus, guarded with the strictest care the dignity of the Roman name, and diffused the freedom of the city with a prudent liberality.

   • 1854, History, Gazetteer, and Directory, of Norfolk, and the City and County of the City of Norwich ... (Sheffield, Francis White & Co.), p 77:

     The freedom of the city can now only be acquired by birth or servitude; but many were formerly admitted by gift and purchase, a fine of from £ 3 to £ 25, according to trade, being charged on the admission of strangers.

4. Frankness; openness; unreservedness.
   • 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter L”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson;  […], →OCLC ↗:

     I doubt not, that you will take amiss my freedom; but as you have deserved it from me, I shall be less and less concerned on that score, as I see you are more and more intent to show your wit at the expense of justice and compassion.

5. Improper familiarity; violation of the rules of decorum.
   • 1828, James Hogg, Mary Burnet:

     "A first love is not easily extinguished, Mr. Allanson," said she. "You may guess from my appearance, that I have been fortunate in life; but, for all that, my first love for you has continued the same, unaltered and unchanged, and you must forgive the little freedoms I used to-day to try your affections, and the effects my appearance would have on you."

• liberty
• license
• exemption

• bondage
• constraint
• imprisonment
• slavery
• unfreedom

• French: liberté
• German: Freiheit
• Italian: libertà
• Portuguese: liberdade
• Russian: свобо́да
• Spanish: libertad

• French: liberté
• German: Freiheit
• Italian: libertà
• Portuguese: liberdade
• Russian: свобо́да
• Spanish: libertad

1. A number of places in USA:
   1. CDP in Santa Cruz County, California.
   2. A settlement in Wilkinson County, Georgia.
   3. An ucomm in both Caribou County.
   4. An ucomm in Franklin, Owen County.
   5. An ucomm in Russell County, Kentucky.
   6. A town in Waldo County, Maine.
   7. A twp/and/ucomm therein, in Washtenaw County.
   8. An ucomm in Osage County, Missouri.
   9. A town in Carroll County, New Hampshire.
   10. An ucomm in Frontier County, Nebraska.
   11. A town in Cattaraugus County, New York.
   12. A town in Woods County, Oklahoma.
   13. A bor in Beaver County.
   14. An ucomm in Sanpete County, Utah.
   15. A town in Forest County, Wisconsin.
   16. A town/and/ucomm therein, in Outagamie County.
   17. A town in Sauk County, Wisconsin.
   18. A number of other townships, listed under Freedom Township.