brīvība

From brīvs (“free”) +‎ -ība. First attested in the late 18th, early 19th century with the meaning (legally, juridically given) “permission,” “privilege.”^[1]

brīvība f (4th declension)

1. (political science, politics) freedom, liberty (situation in which there is no political, social, economical, juridical) subordination, dependence)

   personas brīvība ― personal, individual freedom, liberty

   demokrātiskās brīvības ― democratic freedoms, liberties

   vārda, preses, sirdsapziņas brīvība ― freedom of speech, of press, of conscience

   sapulču brīvība ― freedom of reunion

   koloniālo tautu brīvības cīņas ― colonial peoples' struggle for freedom

2. freedom, liberty (situation in which a person or animal is not imprisoned)

   laist gūstekni brīvībā ― to let a prisoner go free (lit. in freedom)

   sodīt ar brīvībās atņemšanu ― to punish by imprisonment (lit. by removal of freedom)

   tur vārnai deva pilnīgu brīvību ― there they gave the crow complete freedom

3. freedom, liberty (having no constraints on one's posibilities for moving or acting)

   izvēles, rīcības brīvība ― freedom of choice, of action

   brīvība domāt, spriest, lemt ― freedom to think, to judge, to decide

   dot bērnam vairāk brīvības ― to give the child more freedom

4. (philosophy) freedom (the capacity to realize and express one's will, in accordance with the laws of nature)

   brīvība un nepieciešamība ― freedom and necessity

The word brīvība is the most frequent term used in the sense “freedom,” “liberty.” Its synonyms brīve, brīvestība, and svabadība, though attested, are clearly dated or old-fashioned.

• (dated terms) brīve (poetic), brīvestība, svabadība
• neatkarība
• patstāvība
• vaļa