Freedom

Freedom is a remarkably imprecise word that can refer to:

• Freedom (political)

• an absence of political restraints, particularly with respect to speech, religious practice, and the press.

• not being in prison, not (in particular, no longer) the victim of false imprisonment

• economic freedom, i.e., having choices, not being subject to very many natural or institutional constraints. A monopolistic firm has more freedom to set prices than does a firm in a perfectly competitive market. One with more net worth has more freedom than one without any. See economic power.

• no longer having a romantic relationship, free to do what one wants, including starting a new one or having one-night-stands, casual physical intimacy, etc.

• coming of age and leaving one's elderly home

• freedom of choice i.e. free will

For the shorter term, being free also means having holidays, weekend, finished work for the day, having a break.

It is also the name of a British newspaper, an album by Neil Young, two otherwise unrelated songs by Richie Havens and Rage Against the Machine, and small towns in New York and New Hampshire.