Liberation is based on the word liberty, related to the word liberal, and it is often understood as "to be freed (or change) from not having freedom to having freedom". A major use of the word is the act of the (forcible) removal of unwanted control of an area, person or people by an outside (sometimes military) force. Some have used the term to refer to the removal of sexual inhibitions.

In Ghana, Togo and Benin, the term "liberation" has been used to refer to the winning of freedom for shrine slaves that had been held in ritual servitude. The kind of liberation has been achieved through the intervention of NGO's because in 1998 the practice of ritual servitude was made illegal and punishable by a mandatory three years imprisonment, but the practice continued. NGO's were able to negotiate community-wide agreements to end the practice and free the shrine slaves in many places, but involuntary servitude still continues in other shrines.

Other meanings:

Liberation may refer to:

• the 1944 defeat and expulsion of Nazi Germany from France by the victorious Allies (see Military history of France during World War II).
• A name given to various social movements such as Women's Liberation and Gay Liberation.
• Liberation in eastern religions, another word for enlightenment or moksha (also called mukti).
• Libération, a French newspaper.
• Liberation (Bunny Wailer album), a 1989 reggae album.
• Liberation (The Divine Comedy Album), a 1993 album.
• Liberation (Mýa album), a 2006 R&B album.
• Captive 2, a computer game for the Amiga CD32.
• Killzone Liberation, the PlayStation Portable sequel to the PlayStation 2 game Killzone.