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1. Dictionary

   liberal

   /ˈlɪb(ə)rəl/

   adjective

   • 1. willing to respect or accept behaviour or opinions different from one's own; open to new ideas: "they have liberal views on divorce" Similar tolerantunprejudicedunbigotedbroad-mindedopen-mindedenlightenedforbearingpermissivefreefree and easyeasy-goinglaissez-fairelibertarianlatitudinarianunbiasedimpartialnon-partisanindulgentlenientlaxsoftOpposite narrow-mindedbigoted
   • ▪ (in a political context) favouring policies that are socially progressive and promote social welfare: "they favour liberal ideologies over conservative ones" Similar progressiveforward-lookingforward-thinkingprogressivistgo-aheadenlightenedreformistradicalfreethinkingleft-wingleftistpolitically correctPCinformal:wokeright-onOpposite conservativereactionary
   • ▪ regarding many traditional beliefs as dispensable, invalidated by modern thought, or liable to change.
   • 2. relating to or denoting a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise: "a liberal democratic state" Similar progressiveforward-lookingforward-thinkingprogressivistgo-aheadenlightenedreformistradicalfreethinkingleft-wingleftistpolitically correctPCinformal:wokeright-onOpposite conservativereactionary
   • 3. relating to a Liberal party or (in the UK) the Liberal Democrat Party: "the Liberal leader"
   • 4. given, used, or occurring in generous amounts: "liberal amounts of wine had been consumed" Similar abundantcopiousampleplentifulgenerouslavishluxuriantprofuseconsiderableprolificrichgaloreexcessiveimmoderatesuperabundantoverabundantinformal:over the topliterary:plenteousOpposite scant
   • ▪ (of a person) giving generously: "Sam was too liberal with the wine" Similar generousmagnanimousopen-handedunsparingunstintingungrudginglavishfreemunificentbountifulbeneficentbenevolentbig-heartedkind-heartedkindphilanthropiccharitablealtruisticunselfishextravagantovergenerousgenerous to a faultimmoderatewastefuloverabundantprofligateprodigalthriftlessimprovidentintemperateunrestrainedwildinformal:over the topliterary:bounteousOpposite miserlycareful
   • 5. (of education) concerned with broadening a person's general knowledge and experience, rather than with technical or professional training: "the provision of liberal adult education" Similar wide-rangingbroad-basedgeneralhumanistic
   • 6. (especially of an interpretation of a law) broadly construed or understood; not strictly literal or exact: "they could have given the 1968 Act a more liberal interpretation" Similar flexiblebroadlooseroughnon-restrictivefreegeneralnon-literalnon-specificnot literalnot strictnot closeinexactimprecisevagueindefiniteill-definedunrigorousunmeticulousOpposite strictto the letter

   noun

   • 1. a supporter of policies that are socially progressive and promote social welfare: "are we dealing with a polarization between liberals and conservatives?"
   • 2. a supporter of a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise: "classical liberals emphasized the right of the individual to make decisions, even if the results dismayed their neighbours or injured themselves"
   • 3. a supporter or member of a Liberal party or (in the UK) the Liberal Democrat Party: "the Liberals are looking to defend a seat in Tuebrook and Stoneycroft"

   Word Origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin liberalis, from liber ‘free (man)’. The original sense was ‘suitable for a free man’, hence ‘suitable for a gentleman’ (one not tied to a trade), surviving in liberal arts. Another early sense ‘generous’ (compare with liberal (sense 4 of the adjective)) gave rise to an obsolete meaning ‘free from restraint’, leading to liberal (sense 1 of the adjective) (late 18th century).

   Derivatives

   • 1. liberalness noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishLIBERAL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   LIBERAL definition: 1. respecting and allowing many different types of beliefs or behaviour: 2. believing in or…. Learn more.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryLIBERAL | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   LIBERAL meaning: 1. respecting and allowing many different types of beliefs or behaviour: 2. believing in or…. Learn more.

4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › liberalLiberal Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › liberal

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   Jul 3, 2012 · The meaning of LIBERAL is of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts. How to use liberal in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Liberal.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › liberalLIBERAL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › liberal

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   As a noun, liberal is used to refer to a person who has liberal views, especially on politics or religion. When capitalized, Liberal refers to a member of a liberal political party, such as the Liberal party of Great Britain.

6. www.britannica.com › topic › liberalismLiberalism | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica

   www.britannica.com › topic › liberalism

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   Jun 18, 2024 · liberalism, political doctrine that takes protecting and enhancing the freedom of the individual to be the central problem of politics. Liberals typically believe that government is necessary to protect individuals from being harmed by others, but they also recognize that government itself can pose a threat to liberty.

7. www.merriam-webster.com › wordplay › liberal-meaning-origin-historyWhat Exactly Is a 'Liberal'? | Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › wordplay › liberal-meaning-origin-history

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   One of these definitions we provide for liberal is “a person who believes that government should be active in supporting social and political change”; it is up to you to choose whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. In other words, “We define, you decide.”

8. www.dictionary.com › browse › libéralLIBERAL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › libéral

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   adjective. favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs. Synonyms: progressive. Antonyms: reactionary. (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishLIBERALISM | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   an attitude of respecting and allowing many different types of beliefs or behaviour: Sexual liberalism has not gone unchallenged. the anything-goes liberalism of Hollywood. (also Liberalism)

10. www.britannica.com › dictionary › liberalLiberal Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

    www.britannica.com › dictionary › liberal

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    LIBERAL meaning: 1 : believing that government should be active in supporting social and political change relating to or supporting political liberalism; 2 : of or belonging to the liberal political party in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom

11. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishliberal noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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    a person who supports individual freedom and rights, democracy and free enterprise (= businesses competing against each other with little government control) As a liberal, I treasure individual freedom. His radical theories on race are opposed by many centrists and liberals. The liberals want to leave it to the market to decide. see also neoliberal