self-emancipation

noun

self-eman·​ci·​pa·​tion ˌself-i-ˌman(t)-sə-ˈpā-shən How to pronounce self-emancipation (audio)
plural self-emancipations
: the act or process of emancipating oneself
… but [Frederick] Douglass's escape was more prosaic, mirroring many self-emancipations from the period that depended more on logistics and less on romance.Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and John Stauffer
Karl Marx described socialist revolution as the self-emancipation of the working class.Sharon Smith

Examples of self-emancipation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
In fact, Lincoln’s proclamation was more a recognition of the Africans’ self-emancipation than an order to be carried out. John L. Hudgins, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2024 The Spirit That Guides Betye Saar: The 97-year-old artist’s newest works reflect her decades-long interest in cultural artifacts and self-emancipation. Kurt Soller Josh Robenstone, New York Times, 17 May 2024 The 97-year-old artist’s newest works reflect her decades-long interest in cultural artifacts and self-emancipation. Evan Nicole Brown, New York Times, 8 May 2024 Four years later, however, an unexpected source presented Harry with another opportunity for self-emancipation. Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-emancipation was in 1783

Dictionary Entries Near self-emancipation

Cite this Entry

“Self-emancipation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-emancipation. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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