emancipate
verb
eman·ci·pate i-ˈman(t)-sə-ˌpāt 
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
i-ˈman(t)-sə-ˌpā-tər
noun emancipatory
i-ˈman(t)-sə-pə-ˌtȯr-ē
adjective 
Synonyms
- discharge
- disenthrall
- disenthral
- enfranchise
- enlarge
- free
- liberate
- loose
- loosen
- manumit
- release
- spring
- unbind
- uncage
- unchain
- unfetter
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 original executive order was made by union troops in Galveston, Texas to emancipate over 250,000 Black slaves in the state. 
Scott Luxor, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2022 Over the course of a week-long session at the camp, Whistler butts heads with Jordan (played by Germaine), a trans and nonbinary teen who made a deal with their parents to legally emancipate themself after attending the camp. Wilson Chapman, Variety, 22 June 2022 Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, John Jay—indeed, just about every one of the Founders who went on record—affirmed that under the law of nations belligerents could emancipate enemy slaves in an effort to win a war or suppress a rebellion. James Oakes, The New York Review of Books, 12 May 2022 As the season unfolds, Edwina finds a way to emancipate herself from her older sister's opinions, just as Kate will learn to want things for herself. Sheena Scott, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 If money just gushes out of the ground in the form of hydrocarbons or diamonds or other minerals, the oppressors can emancipate themselves from the oppressed. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2022 The Christmas Princess springs from the same need as my memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey — to emancipate the little girl in me. Daniela Avila, PEOPLE.com, 5 Feb. 2022 Over the past months, Spears has been using Instagram to communicate with fans and thank them for their continued support in her battle to emancipate herself from her conservatorship. Ruth Kinane, EW.com, 21 Sep. 2021 Over the past months, Spears has been using Instagram to communicate with fans and thank them for their continued support in her battle to emancipate herself from her conservatorship. Ruth Kinane, EW.com, 21 Sep. 2021 See More
Scott Luxor, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2022 Over the course of a week-long session at the camp, Whistler butts heads with Jordan (played by Germaine), a trans and nonbinary teen who made a deal with their parents to legally emancipate themself after attending the camp. Wilson Chapman, Variety, 22 June 2022 Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, John Jay—indeed, just about every one of the Founders who went on record—affirmed that under the law of nations belligerents could emancipate enemy slaves in an effort to win a war or suppress a rebellion. James Oakes, The New York Review of Books, 12 May 2022 As the season unfolds, Edwina finds a way to emancipate herself from her older sister's opinions, just as Kate will learn to want things for herself. Sheena Scott, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 If money just gushes out of the ground in the form of hydrocarbons or diamonds or other minerals, the oppressors can emancipate themselves from the oppressed. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2022 The Christmas Princess springs from the same need as my memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey — to emancipate the little girl in me. Daniela Avila, PEOPLE.com, 5 Feb. 2022 Over the past months, Spears has been using Instagram to communicate with fans and thank them for their continued support in her battle to emancipate herself from her conservatorship. Ruth Kinane, EW.com, 21 Sep. 2021 Over the past months, Spears has been using Instagram to communicate with fans and thank them for their continued support in her battle to emancipate herself from her conservatorship. Ruth Kinane, EW.com, 21 Sep. 2021 See More 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
Kids Definition
emancipate
verb
eman·ci·pate i-ˈman-sə-ˌpāt
emancipated; emancipating
: to set free from control or slavery : liberate
Legal Definition
emancipate
transitive verb
eman·ci·pate i-ˈman-sə-ˌpāt
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.
emancipations
noun
as in liberations
the act of setting free from slavery a book discussing the role that emancipation played in the nation's history Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- liberations
- manumissions
- independences
- freedoms
- independencies
- enfranchisements
- salvations
- redemptions
- deliverances
- autonomies
- liberties
- sovereignties
- sovranties
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- enslavements
- servitudes
- bondages
- captivities
- yokes
- subjugations
- conquests
- imprisonments
- incarcerations
- internments
- serfdoms
- thraldoms
- thralldoms
- enchainments