liberation

The act or result of freeing people or a place from control, prison, or cruel treatment.

• The town celebrated its liberation.
• They fought for liberation from foreign rule.
• The prisoners described the day of their liberation.

How to use it: liberation from something (They hoped for liberation from military rule.); liberation of someone/something (The liberation of the prisoners took several months.)

Similar words: release, freeing

Opposites: captivity, enslavement

Common phrases: liberation of something, liberation from something, after liberation, liberation of someone

Gaining equal rights and freedom from unfair treatment of a particular group.

• She joined the women’s liberation movement.
• The group campaigned for gay liberation.
• Their vision of liberation included equal access to education.

How to use it: liberation from something (They called for liberation from racial oppression.)

Similar words: emancipation

Opposites: oppression

Common phrases: women’s liberation, gay liberation, liberation movement