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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.”
Examples of emancipation in a Sentence
Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2023
Sutton Lewis: 15-year-old Christine wrote in her diary Hafner as Christine: The glorious emancipation proclamation for woman has gone forth and no power can put her back in her former state.
—The Lost Women Of Science Initiative, Scientific American, 30 Nov. 2023
After emancipation, freed men and women continued to build praise houses on or near the old plantations.
—Patricia Leigh Brown, New York Times, 23 Nov. 2023
Scholars and journalists have also extensively examined slavery and its legacy, including how the North profited from the institution, and the role slavery played in decisions of past political leaders during the formation of America and after emancipation.
—Reuters, NBC News, 27 June 2023
The most direct avenue into her incendiary brew of exalted love and devastating fury, revealing her revelatory voice of emancipation, is opera.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2023
Throughout the film, Anna works with her older brother (Ellingson) and an attorney (Alec Baldwin) to sue their parents (Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric) for her medical emancipation.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 7 Nov. 2023
The Quincy History Museum is nearby with a number of interesting artifacts from the town, including a copy of Barnett’s letter of emancipation, and a beautiful view of the town square.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023
Honoring the emancipation of women in Chile, the documentary curates voices from various generations to trace the trajectory, laying bare the memory of a feminist resistance that remains relevant to this day.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 28 Nov. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'emancipation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
1631, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing emancipation
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Cite this Entry
“Emancipation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emancipation. Accessed 9 Jan. 2024.
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Medical Definition
emancipation
noun
Legal Definition
emancipation
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on emancipation
Nglish: Translation of emancipation for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of emancipation for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about emancipation
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