libertarian

American  

[lib-er-tair-ee-uhn] / ˌlɪb ərˈtɛər i ən /

noun

1. a follower of a political philosophy or party that advocates individual liberty achieved by limiting the power of a central government.

   Whether left- or right-leaning, libertarians generally oppose taxation and support free trade.

2. a person who advocates liberty, especially with regard to thought or conduct.

3. a person who maintains the doctrine of free will (distinguished from necessitarian).

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adjective

1. of or relating to a political philosophy or party that advocates individual liberty achieved by limiting the power of a central government.

   libertarian views;

   a libertarian economist.

2. advocating or conforming to the principles of liberty.

3. maintaining the doctrine of free will.

libertarian British  

/ ˌlɪbəˈtɛərɪən /

noun

1. a believer in freedom of thought, expression, etc

2. philosophy a believer in the doctrine of free will Compare determinism

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a libertarian

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antilibertarian
  adjective
• libertarianism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of libertarian

First recorded in 1780–90; libert(y) + -arian

Explanation

Someone who is a libertarian advocates the importance of the individual over government control — libertarians believe strongly in freedom. A libertarian holds onto the idea of a person's free will and individualism, with the word based on the Latin root liber, meaning “free.” In the U.S., libertarians can be to the left or the right of the political spectrum. A libertarian believes that someone should make his or her own decisions rather than rely on a political party line. If you think the government should keep its nose out of your business, then you might be a libertarian.

Example Sentences

“One thing about libertarians is if you tell them what to do, they’re probably going to do the opposite,” said Steven Nekhaila, the current chairman of the Libertarian National Committee.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Libertarian Musk and the apolitical Altman found common ground in a shared belief about the future of AI.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Doherty was the author of several books, with Reason saying his most notable work was the 2007 study “Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Fusion parties stand in contrast to a more traditional third party, like the Green Party or the Libertarian Party, which normally nominate their own candidates.

From Salon • Oct. 26, 2024

I didn't know about that in late 1989 when the Delaware Libertarian Party asked me to be its AG candidate, and I'd already agreed before I found out.

From Diamond Dust by Shearin, K. Kay

Related Words

• autonomous
• constitutional
• egalitarian
• free
• orderly
• popular