liberalism
[ lib-er-uh-liz-uh m, lib-ruh- ]
/ ˈlɪb ər əˌlɪz əm, ˈlɪb rə- /
noun
the quality or state of being liberal, as in behavior or attitude.
a political or social philosophy advocating the freedom of the individual, parliamentary systems of government, nonviolent modification of political, social, or economic institutions to assure unrestricted development in all spheres of human endeavor, and governmental guarantees of individual rights and civil liberties.
(sometimes initial capital letter) the principles and practices of a liberal party in politics.
a movement in modern Protestantism that emphasizes freedom from tradition and authority, the adjustment of religious beliefs to scientific conceptions, and the development of spiritual capacities.
RELATED CONTENT
Outcry And Other Trending Words On Dictionary.comInept was up 186% in searches this week . . . and this time it’s about somebody else’s dysfunctional government and leadership team. The Times helped us explain this one: “Malcolm Turnbull, the prime minister, and his deputy, Barnaby Joyce, traded extraordinary public barbs yesterday over an adulterous affair that has gripped the nation and fractured the government. Mr Turnbull said his deputy had ‘appalled everyone’ …
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
liberal judaism, liberal party, liberal studies, liberal unionist, liberalia, liberalism, liberality, liberalize, liberally, liberate, liberated
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for liberalism
British Dictionary definitions for liberalism
liberalism
/ (ˈlɪbərəˌlɪzəm, ˈlɪbrə-) /
noun
liberal opinions, practices, or politics
a movement in modern Protestantism that rejects biblical authority
Derived Formsliberalist, noun, adjectiveliberalistic, adjective
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 liberalism
liberalism
In the twentieth century, a viewpoint or ideology associated with free political institutions and religious toleration, as well as support for a strong role of government in regulating capitalism and constructing the welfare state (see also welfare state).
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.