'freedwoman' originates from English, specifically formed from the past-participial adjective 'freed' (from 'free' + '-d') and 'woman', where 'free' meant 'not in bondage' and 'woman' meant 'adult female person'.

'free' comes from Old English 'frēo' (or 'frēo') and Proto-Germanic '*frijaz' meaning 'beloved, not in bondage'; 'woman' developed from Old English 'wīfmann' ('wīf' meant 'woman/wife' and 'mann' meant 'person'), which became Middle English 'womman' and modern 'woman'. The compound 'freedwoman' is a straightforward modern English formation combining these elements.

Initially it described a woman who had been set free from slavery; this core meaning has been retained, though usage can be specifically historical or legal (e.g., Roman 'liberta').