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1. Dictionary

   Lib·er·al

   /ˈlib(ə)rəl/

   

   adjective

   • 1. willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one's own; open to new ideas: "they have more liberal views toward marriage and divorce than some people" Similar tolerantunprejudicedunbigotedbroad-mindedopen-mindedenlightenedforbearingpermissivefreefree and easyeasygoinglaissez-fairelibertarianlatitudinarianunbiasedimpartialnonpartisanindulgentlenientlaxsoftOpposite narrow-mindedbigoted
   • ▪ (in a political context) favoring policies that are socially progressive and promote social welfare. "they favor 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 generousmagnanimousopenhandedunsparingunstintingungrudginglavishfreemunificentbountifulbeneficentbenevolentbig-heartedkindheartedkindphilanthropiccharitablealtruisticunselfishextravagantovergenerousgenerous 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 flexiblebroadlooseroughnonrestrictivefreegeneralnonliteralnonspecificnot 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 neighbors 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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2. 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.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › liberal

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   Liberal means favorable to reform or progress, such as in religion or politics. Generally, a person is considered to be liberal if they support changes or reforms to something, as in The pastor was especially liberal and argued for changes to the ceremony to better fit with modern society.

4. www.merriam-webster.com › wordplay › liberal-meaningWhat Exactly Is a 'Liberal'? | Merriam-Webster

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

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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.”

5. en.wikipedia.org › wiki › LiberalismLiberalism - Wikipedia

   en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Liberalism

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   Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality, right to private property and equality before the law.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › english › liberalLIBERAL | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › english › liberal

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

7. 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.

8. 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.