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

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › liberal

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   The meaning of LIBERAL is inclined to be open to ideas and ways of behaving that are not conventional or traditional : broad-minded, tolerant. How to use liberal in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Liberal.

3. 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.

4. 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:

5. 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.

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

   www.britannica.com › topic › liberalism

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   Sep 5, 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. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishMeaning of liberal – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   LIBERAL definition: 1. accepting beliefs and behaviour that are new or different from your own: 2. Liberal political…. Learn more.

9. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishLIBERAL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   Someone who has liberal views believes people should have a lot of freedom in deciding how to behave and think. She is known to have liberal views on divorce and contraception. Synonyms: tolerant, enlightened, open-minded, permissive More Synonyms of liberal. Liberal is also a noun.

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 adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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    having or relating to political and social beliefs that support individual freedom and rights, democracy and free enterprise (= businesses competing against each other with little government control) Some politicians want more liberal trade relations with Europe. liberal democracy. liberal theories. a liberal politician.