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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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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. www.diffen.com › difference › Conservative_vs_LiberalConservative vs Liberal - Difference and Comparison | Diffen

   www.diffen.com › difference › Conservative_vs_Liberal

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   What's the difference between Conservative and Liberal? The epithet conservative or liberal is used to describe political and economic views and affiliations. The meaning of 'conservative' or 'liberal' could be different in different contexts - social, economic and political. They also differ in usage in differ...

4. 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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   Politically, it means "“a person who believes that government should be active in supporting social and political change." Liberal can be traced back to the Latin word liber (meaning “free”), which is also the root of liberty ("the quality or state of being free") and libertine ("one leading a dissolute life").

5. 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.

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

   en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Liberalism

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   For all three share a belief in the liberal society as defined above: a society that provides constitutional government (rule by law, not by men) and freedom of religion, thought, expression and economic interaction; a society in which ... . Wolin, Sheldon S. (2004).

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › liberal

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   favoring or permitting freedom of action, especially with respect to matters of personal belief or expression: a liberal policy toward dissident artists and writers. of or relating to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies. free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant:

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitionliberal adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

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   Definition of liberal adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

9. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › liberalismLiberalism Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › liberalism

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   The meaning of LIBERALISM is the quality or state of being liberal. How to use liberalism in a sentence.

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

    www.dictionary.com › browse › libéral

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    a person of liberal principles or views, especially in politics or religion. (often initial capital letter) a member of a liberal party in politics, especially of the Liberal party in Great Britain. Liberal

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

    www.britannica.com › topic › liberalism

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    Jun 18, 2024 · Underlying the liberal belief in adversariality is the conviction that human beings are essentially rational creatures capable of settling their political disputes through dialogue and compromise.