freedom noun

ADJ. complete, full, maximum, perfect, total | considerable, great The new syllabus allows students greater freedom of choice. | comparative, relative | basic, fundamental Living without war is a fundamental freedom. | individual, personal Individual freedom should be balanced against the rights of the community. | new-found When she lost her job, she at first relished her new-found freedom. | academic, artistic, creative, economic, intellectual, political, press, religious, sexual Without academic freedom, we cannot do any research.

QUANT. measure Teachers can exercise a measure of freedom in their choice of materials.

VERB + FREEDOM enjoy, have Publishers here enjoy comparative freedom to publish what they want. | enjoy, relish I was enjoying the freedom of not having to go to work. | exercise | achieve, gain, obtain, secure, win The women have won many new freedoms for themselves. | maintain, retain | give up, lose, surrender As Mike saw it, marriage would mean giving up his freedom. | cost sb His inability to resist temptation would eventually cost him his freedom. | allow sb, give sb, permit sb | curtail, inhibit, reduce, restrict, threaten I don't want to curtail my daughter's freedom. Our freedom was threatened by press censorship.

PREP. ~ from freedom from fear and pain | ~ in Branch managers have considerable freedom in running their offices. | ~ of The Official Secrets Act was amended to allow greater freedom of information.

PHRASES freedom of choice, freedom of expression/speech, freedom of movement, freedom of the press