émancipation

emancipation, liberation

noun eh-mahn-see-pah-SYOHN Rare

Origin: From Latin 'emancipatio', release from paternal authority.

Usage Note

Émancipation is used in legal, social, and political contexts — the legal emancipation of a minor, women's liberation, or the end of slavery. The verb is s'émanciper ('to emancipate oneself'). In French law, l'émancipation gives a minor the legal capacity of an adult before age 18.

Examples

"L'émancipation des femmes a transformé la société."

Natural Translation

The emancipation of women transformed society.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Avoir or Être? Picking the Right Past-Tense Helper

Use avoir for the passé composé unless the verb is reflexive or one of ~16 DR MRS VANDERTRAMP motion verbs, which take être and force agreement.

June 4, 2026 5 min read

FrenchNow

Passé Composé vs Imparfait: When to Use Each

Passé composé tells the story; imparfait paints the scene. Use this 2-second flowchart, trigger words, and paired examples to pick the right French tense.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Je t'aime vs Je t'adore: I Love You in French

Je t'aime is the real romantic I love you; je t'adore means warm fondness, not romance. Here's the person-vs-thing rule and the bien trap that flips it.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Le, La, Un, Du: French Articles Made Simple

Le, la, un, du, des made simple: pick the French article family by meaning, the form by gender, and dodge the two mistakes English speakers always make.

June 4, 2026 5 min read