emancipate

verb

eman·​ci·​pate i-ˈman(t)-sə-ˌpāt How to pronounce emancipate (audio)
emancipated; emancipating

transitive verb

1
: to free from restraint, control, or the power of another
especially : to free from bondage
2
: to release from parental care and responsibility and make sui juris
3
: to free from any controlling influence (such as traditional mores or beliefs)
emancipator noun
emancipatory adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for emancipate

free, release, liberate, emancipate, manumit mean to set loose from restraint or constraint.

free implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds, confines, entangles, or oppresses.

freed the animals from their cages

release suggests a setting loose from confinement, restraint, or a state of pressure or tension, often without implication of permanent liberation.

released his anger on a punching bag

liberate stresses particularly the resulting state of liberty.

liberated their country from the tyrant

emancipate implies the liberation of a person from subjection or domination.

labor-saving devices emancipated us from household drudgery

manumit implies emancipation from slavery.

the document manumitted the slaves

Examples of emancipate in a Sentence

He felt the only way to emancipate himself from his parents was to move away. under the cover of darkness animal rights activists emancipated the inhabitants of the mink ranch
Recent Examples on the Web The series also asserts that Schneider was not only heavily involved in Bynes’ professional life but in her personal life as well, including trying to help Bynes get emancipated from her parents. Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 What role did churches play in the lives of the newly emancipated? Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2024 But because the Civil War erupted months later, the Clotilda survivors – who were all abducted from the same town in present-day Nigeria by raiders from the kingdom of Dahomey in present-day Benin – were emancipated within five years. Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024 Washington then set about making arrangements to emancipate his slaves but encountered legal complexities because most of them were the property of his wife. The Editors, National Review, 19 Feb. 2024 Transforming Mason’s Island into Theodore Roosevelt Island The city of Washington emancipated enslaved people on April 16, 1862, ending the practice of slavery on Mason’s Island and elsewhere in the nation’s capital. Sue Eisenfeld, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024 The 8-year-old Barrymore stands out as the most mature lead in the film (and she was emancipated from her parents in real life six years later). Gwen Ihnat, EW.com, 7 Nov. 2023 Ed refused to spoon Bob, and his gentle and emancipated soul would surely rebuff mawkish kindness. Daniel Felsenthal, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2024 Wilson criticized the plaintiffs’ citation of the Civil Right Act of 1866, a Reconstruction-era law meant to grant economic rights to enslaved people who were emancipated. Julian Mark, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'emancipate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin emancipatus, past participle of emancipare, from e- + mancipare to transfer ownership of, from mancip-, manceps contractor, from manus hand + capere to take — more at manual, heave entry 1

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of emancipate was in 1613

Dictionary Entries Near emancipate

Cite this Entry

“Emancipate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emancipate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

emancipate

verb
eman·​ci·​pate i-ˈman(t)-sə-ˌpāt How to pronounce emancipate (audio)
emancipated; emancipating
: to free from someone else's control or power
especially : to free from slavery
emancipation
-ˌman(t)-sə-ˈpā-shən
noun
emancipator noun
emancipatory adjective

Legal Definition

emancipate

transitive verb
eman·​ci·​pate i-ˈman-sə-ˌpāt How to pronounce emancipate (audio)
emancipated; emancipating
1
: to free from restraint, control, or the power of another
especially : to free from bondage
emancipated the slaves
compare enfranchise
2
: to release from the care, responsibility, and control of one's parents compare age of majority, legal age

Note: The circumstances under which a minor may become emancipated vary from state to state. In many states, however, the marriage of a minor results in his or her emancipation.

More from Merriam-Webster on emancipate

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