Emancipate: meaning, definitions and examples
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emancipate
[ ɪˈmænsɪˌpeɪt ]
society
To set free, especially from legal, social, or political restrictions. To liberate or release from bondage, oppression, or control. To free from the limitations of traditional roles or expectations.
Synonyms
free, liberate, release, unshackle.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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emancipate |
Typically used in a historical or legal context to describe the act of freeing someone from legal, social, or political restrictions. It often refers to large groups or systemic liberation.
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liberate |
Often used in a military or political context to describe freeing a country, city, or group of people from oppression or occupation. Can also be used more generally for freeing someone from limiting situations.
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free |
A general term used in everyday language as well as formal contexts to indicate the act of making someone or something free from constraints, imprisonment, or control.
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release |
Used in both formal and informal contexts to indicate the act of letting someone go from confinement, imprisonment, or any kind of restraint. Also common in legal settings for describing prisoners being released.
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unshackle |
More dramatic and literary term, often used metaphorically to describe freeing someone from mental, emotional, or societal restrictions. Can also refer to the literal removal of shackles.
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Examples of usage
- He was determined to emancipate the slaves and grant them their freedom.
- The women's rights movement fought to emancipate women from societal constraints.
- After years of therapy, she finally emancipated herself from her traumatic past.
Translations
Translations of the word "emancipate" in other languages:
🇵🇹 emancipar
🇮🇳 मुक्त करना
🇩🇪 emanzipieren
🇮🇩 membebaskan
🇺🇦 емансипувати
🇵🇱 emancypować
🇯🇵 解放する (かいほうする)
🇫🇷 émanciper
🇪🇸 emancipar
🇹🇷 özgürleştirmek
🇰🇷 해방하다 (haebanghada)
🇸🇦 يحرر (yuḥarrir)
🇨🇿 emancipovat
🇸🇰 emancipovať
🇨🇳 解放 (jiěfàng)
🇸🇮 emancipirati
🇮🇸 frelsa
🇰🇿 босату
🇬🇪 გათავისუფლება (gatavisupleba)
🇦🇿 azad etmək
🇲🇽 emancipar
Etymology
The word 'emancipate' comes from the Latin word 'emancipatus', which is the past participle of 'emancipare', meaning 'to set free'. The concept of emancipation has been central to many historical movements, including the abolition of slavery and the fight for equal rights. Emancipation is a powerful idea that represents liberation and freedom from oppression.