liberalization

[ lib-er-uh-lahy-zey-shuhn, lib-ruh- ]

noun

1. the state of being or becoming more favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs:

   The liberalization of Anglican thought predates the rise of Protestant fundamentalism.

2. the act or process of making something, such as laws or regulations, less restrictive, or the state of being or becoming less restrictive:

   The president has proposed liberalization of the criminal code to allow for a reduction in maximum sentences and the introduction of monetary fines for less severe offenses.

   The government is updating existing contracts with some foreign companies to favor liberalization and free market competition.

Other Words From

• o·ver·lib·er·al·i·za·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of liberalization¹

liberaliz(e) ( def ) + -ation ( def )

Example Sentences

While smoking bans indoors have become pretty ubiquitous, this research may have new relevance as states begin liberalizing marijuana laws and cracking down on e-cigarettes and vaping.

From Vox

First of all, the energy market was not as liberalized as it is today.

From Fortune

In the two nascent, newly liberalized industries, there is an opportunity for states to begin making up some of those deficits by legalizing, regulating, and taxing them.

From Fortune

The city has gone beyond state mandates in liberalizing its granny flat regulations, and the City Council could this year move those policies forward yet again.

From Voice of San Diego

Since 2000, 17 states have liberalized their fireworks laws, with Massachusetts the lone state that completely prohibits people from owning and using them.

From Time

Widespread greed, corruption, and sexual violence predate economic liberalization in 1991.

From The Daily Beast

The president is expected to call for more liberalization agreements in the State of the Union.

From The Daily Beast

Global shipping and trade liberalization has made it more practical to manufacture in low wage countries.

From The Daily Beast

Bashar al-Assad favored the adoption of Western-promoted neoliberalism and economic liberalization.

From The Daily Beast

Economic liberalization without political reform to spread that wealth triggered the civil war, writes Majid Rafizadeh.

From The Daily Beast

After the war she will probably lead all other countries in a sane and scientific liberalization.

From Project Gutenberg

Within the church two forces are working towards its liberalization.

From Project Gutenberg

It was enlargement, liberalization, extension of intellectual opportunity for man simply as man.

From Project Gutenberg

For one thing, the liberalization of policy and practices affected only a relatively small percentage of the Negroes in the Navy.

From Project Gutenberg

Again an apparent liberalization of departmental racial policy actually promised very little change.

From Project Gutenberg