emancipation

noun

eman·​ci·​pa·​tion i-ˌman(t)-sə-ˈpā-shən 

: the act or process of emancipating

emancipationist

i-ˌman(t)-sə-ˈpā-sh(ə-)nist 

noun

Did you know?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, ordered that enslaved people living in rebellious territories be released from the bonds of ownership and made free people—their own masters. Though the proclamation's initial impact was limited, the order was true to the etymology of emancipation, which comes from a Latin word combining the prefix e-, meaning "away," and mancipare, meaning "to transfer ownership of.”

Synonyms

• enfranchisement
• freeing
• liberation
• manumission

Examples of emancipation in a Sentence

a book discussing the role that the emancipation of slaves played in the nation's history

Recent Examples on the Web

Jane and Bob officially divorced in 2004; around that same time, Aaron accused his mother, who was also his manager at the time, of stealing $100,000 from him, and considered filing for legal emancipation. —Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 26 May 2024

At first, guests of honor of the enslaved people at the center table of this celebratory feast acknowledged the abundance associated with emancipation. —Jessica B. Harris, Southern Living, 13 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1631, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing emancipation

• self-emancipation

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Medical Definition

emancipation

noun

eman·​ci·​pa·​tion i-ˌman(t)-sə-ˈpā-shən 

: gradual separation of an original homogeneous embryo into fields with different specific potentialities for development

Legal Definition

emancipation

noun

eman·​ci·​pa·​tion i-ˌman-sə-ˈpā-shən 

: the act or process of emancipating