liberal

[ lib-er-uhl, lib-ruhl ]

/ ˈlɪb ər əl, ˈlɪb rəl /

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adjective

favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.

(often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform.

of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating liberalism, especially the freedom of the individual and governmental guarantees of individual rights and liberties.

favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, especially as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.

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: a liberal attitude toward foreigners.

open-minded or tolerant, especially free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.

characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts: a liberal donor.

given freely or abundantly; generous: a liberal donation.

not strict or rigorous; free; not literal: a liberal interpretation of a rule.

of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts.

of, relating to, or befitting a freeman.

noun

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.

Nearby words

libelous, liber, liber extra, libera, liberace, liberal, liberal arts, liberal democrat, liberal democrats, liberal education, liberal elite

Origin of liberal

1325–75; Middle English < Latin līberālis of freedom, befitting the free, equivalent to līber free + -ālis -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR liberal

1 progressive.

7 broad-minded, unprejudiced.

9 beneficent, charitable, openhanded, munificent, unstinting, lavish.

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ANTONYMS FOR liberal

1 reactionary.

8 intolerant.

9, 10 niggardly.

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Related forms

lib·er·al·ly, adverblib·er·al·ness, nounan·ti·lib·er·al, adjective, nounan·ti·lib·er·al·ly, adverb

an·ti·lib·er·al·ness, nounhalf-lib·er·al, adjectivehalf-lib·er·al·ly, adverbnon·lib·er·al, adjectiveo·ver·lib·er·al, adjectiveo·ver·lib·er·al·ly, adverbpre·lib·er·al, adjective, nounpre·lib·er·al·ly, adverbpseu·do·lib·er·al, adjective, nounpseu·do·lib·er·al·ly, adverbqua·si-lib·er·al, adjectivequa·si-lib·er·al·ly, adverbsem·i·lib·er·al, adjective, nounsem·i·lib·er·al·ly, adverbun·lib·er·al, adjectiveun·lib·er·al·ly, adverb

Synonym study

9. See generous. 10. See ample.

Definition for liberal (2 of 2)

Liberal

[ lib-er-uh l, lib-ruh l ]

/ ˈlɪb ər əl, ˈlɪb rəl /

noun

a city in SW Kansas.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for liberal

Obviously, the first obligation of all liberal democratic governments is to enforce the rule of law.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
To be a liberal, you have to stand up for liberal principles.
Bill Maher: Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Support Attack on ‘Charlie Hebdo’|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Liberal Democrats like to blow their bugles about how all the big money in politics comes from rich Republicans.
The 100 Rich People Who Run America|Mark McKinnon|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The election of 1964 produced the most liberal Congress since the Democratic landslide of 1936.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Today, liberal Protestantism is on the wane, and optimistic postmillennialism along with it.
The Evangelical Apocalypse Is All Your Fault|Jay Michaelson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And if everything around Mrs. Downey was on a liberal scale, so was Mrs. Downey herself.
The Divine Fire|May Sinclair
His election shows what the unity of the Liberal party must have been.
The True Story of my Parliamentary Struggle|Charles Bradlaugh
They certainly are very generous and liberal, and would be attended with very happy effects.
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution|Various
Meanwhile he had, in 1862, founded the Athenum as the organ of Liberal Catholicism.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 2|Various
Poverty stood at his hearth,—when Viola's grateful smile and liberal hand came to chase the grim fiend away.
Zanoni|Edward Bulwer Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for liberal (1 of 2)

liberal

/ (ˈlɪbərəl, ˈlɪbrəl) /

adjective

relating to or having social and political views that favour progress and reform

relating to or having policies or views advocating individual freedom

giving and generous in temperament or behaviour

tolerant of other people

abundant; lavisha liberal helping of cream

not strict; freea liberal translation

of or relating to an education that aims to develop general cultural interests and intellectual ability

noun

a person who has liberal ideas or opinions

Derived Forms

liberally, adverbliberalness, noun

Word Origin for liberal

C14: from Latin līberālis of freedom, from līber free

British Dictionary definitions for liberal (2 of 2)

Liberal

/ (ˈlɪbərəl, ˈlɪbrəl) /

noun

a member or supporter of a Liberal Party or Liberal Democrat party

adjective

of or relating to a Liberal Party

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Culture definitions for liberal

liberal

A descriptive term for persons, policies, and beliefs associated with liberalism.

liberal

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of liberal

SYNONYMS FOR liberal

ANTONYMS FOR liberal

Related forms

Synonym study

Definition for liberal (2 of 2)

Liberal

noun

Examples from the Web for liberal

British Dictionary definitions for liberal (1 of 2)

liberal

adjective

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for liberal

British Dictionary definitions for liberal (2 of 2)

Liberal

noun

adjective

Culture definitions for liberal

liberal