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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.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishliberal adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   Definition of liberal adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. liberal. adjective. /ˈlɪbərəl/ respecting other opinions. willing to understand and respect other people’s behaviour, opinions, etc., especially when they are different from your own; believing people should be able to choose how they behave.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryliberal | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   liberal | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary. Definition of liberal – Learner’s Dictionary. liberal. adjective. uk / ˈlɪb ə r ə l / us. liberal adjective (ACCEPT) accepting beliefs and behaviour that are new or different from your own: a liberal attitude. Her parents were very liberal. Want to learn more?

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishLIBERAL | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   accepting beliefs and behaviour that are new or different from your own: a liberal attitude. Her parents were very liberal. liberal adjective (POLITICS) Liberal political ideas emphasize the need to make new laws as society changes and the need for government to provide social services. liberal. noun [ C ] someone who is liberal.

5. www.oed.com › dictionary › liberal_adjliberal, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford ...

   www.oed.com › dictionary › liberal_adj

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   What does the word liberal mean? There are 20 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word liberal, three of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. liberal has developed meanings and uses in subjects including.

6. cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com › web › distLiberalism - Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics

   cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com › web › dist

   Liberalism is here understood as a group of related political, social, and economic doctrines and institutions. In political thought, it is associated with nonauthoritarianism, the rule of law, constitutional government with limited powers, and the guarantee of civil and political liberties.

7. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › liberalismsLiberalisms Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › liberalisms

   • Cached

   noun. lib· er· al· ism ˈli-b (ə-)rə-ˌli-zəm. Synonyms of liberalism. 1. : the quality or state of being liberal. 2. a. often capitalized : a movement in modern Protestantism emphasizing intellectual liberty and the spiritual and ethical content of Christianity. b.

8. plato.stanford.edu › entries › liberalismLiberalism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

   plato.stanford.edu › entries › liberalism

   Nov 28, 1996 · Liberalism is a philosophy that starts from a premise that political authority and law must be justified. If citizens are obliged to exercise self-restraint, and especially if they are obliged to defer to someone else’s authority, there must be a reason why. Restrictions on liberty must be justified.