freedumb

See also: free-dumb

English

Alternative forms

• free-dumb

Etymology

Blend of freedom +‎ dumb. First use appears c. 1856 as free-dumb.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɹiː.dʌm/, /ˈfɹiː.dəm/
• Homophone: freedom (one pronunciation)

Noun

freedumb (uncountable)

1. (slang, derogatory, US politics) Stupidity masquerading as love of freedom; an assertion of one's personal liberty which is perceived to be unreasonable or motivated by stupidity.
   • 1866 March 18, Tranquill [pseudonym], “Keep Cool! Keep Cool! Keep Cool!”, in S[imon] P[arker] Hanscom, editor, Daily National Republican, volume VI, number 90, Washington, D.C.: W[illiam] J. Murtagh & Co., front page, column 4:

     He lookt rather strocked, an he says: “Aint a man goin to hav no freedumb of speech?” I told him, “Of course, you’ll hav all the freedumb of speech you want—but you came up here from Connettycut an got a clerkship becaus you couldn’t get inter office at home, an you didn’t want ter bone down ter hard work. […]”

     Representing a pronunciation spelling, likely intentionally with dumb.

   • 1918 November 11, C. Green, “Wavelets from the Deep”, in M. F. Hetherington, editor, The Lakeland Evening Telegram, number 9, Lakeland, Fla., page [4], column 2:

     Liberty is great. Even a man that can’t talk, loves his freedumb.

   • 1946, The University of Michigan (publisher), Rubber Journal - Volumes 110-111, page 129:

     Otherwise they retain their freedom or independence at the expense of being unable to express their ideas in an ordered manner. "Freedumb" versus Freedom!

   • 1964, Pennsylvania Home Rule Association (contributor), Pennsylvania Road Builder - Volumes 37-38, page 5:

     We hear the cry freedom, freedom, on every side, but it seems some men spell it freedumb.

   • 1971, Ezra Pound, The Selected Letters of Ezra Pound, 1907-1941, page 265:

     ... all but the local hill-habitators who are all out and bigod they won't have any more cow if they ain't got freedumb to leave tubercles in the milk.

   • 1980, Institute of Traditional Cultures, Bulletin, page 83:

     But whoever claims vociferously and advocates 100% freedom within themselves know that it is not so and is only 100% 'FREEDUMB'

   • 1992, Jacqueline Kaye, Ezra Pound and America, page 27:

     ... Doob, following Pound's script, gives it as 'Freedumb Forum'.

   • 2000, Norma E. Leary, For God's Sake, page 59:

     The freedom for free speech is rapidly becoming freedumb on all four feet.

   • 2010, Maxine Y. Anderson, My Heart Aches So My Mind Bleeds - A Collection of Poetry, page 61:

     But justice takes a stand / And releases us from the turmoil, / Freedumb rings from the hand / But not from the soil

   • 2011, Laura Penny, More Money Than Brains: Why School Sucks, College is Crap, & Idiots Think They're Right:

     But freedumb also tells us that we can do whatever we like, because we're free to ignore those who think they know better.

   • 2016, Lucy Woodhull, 667 Ways to F*ck Up My Life:

     My first day of terrifying, amazing freedumb flew by in a stupor.

   • 2018, Joe Dixon, The Intelligence Wars: Logos Versus Mythos:

     The Mythos Trinity - free-market capitalism, Judaeo-Christianity, and freedumb and dumbocracy - is a ferociously difficult system to overthrow because it appeals so powerfully to so many people.

   • 2020, Mia Miata, The Goddess Code - Goddess in Womanifestation:

     Freedom or freedumb? Which do you choose?