liberalization
Americannoun
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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.
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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 Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of liberalization
Explanation
Liberalization refers to laws or rules being liberalized, or relaxed, by a government. You might talk about the liberalization of marriage laws in states that allow same-sex marriage. Liberalization came to the English language in 1835, from the word liberal. Literally translated, it means the act of making more liberal, or freer. While liberal is used to refer to more than just politics––you can have liberal parents––liberalization is used only when speaking of economic or social policies or other government regulations.
Vocabulary lists containing liberalization
Ronald Reagan, "Tear Down This Wall" (1987)
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The Contemporary Period, c. 1914 to the Present
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Content Summary 6.6: Foundations of Contemporary Globalization
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For decades, the West assumed that participation in global markets would lead China toward political liberalization.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
Trade liberalization is wreaking havoc with industry, even as agricultural exports drove 4.4% gross domestic product growth last year.
From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026
Still, many in President Trump’s circle of senior advisers had held out hope for China’s economic liberalization.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 1, 2025
One classic argument for agricultural trade liberalization is to let countries exploit their comparative advantages and grow what they grow best.
From Science Magazine • Nov. 26, 2024
Economic growth in 2000 was broad based, putting the government in a good position to pursue its energy market liberalization policies and planned tax cuts.
From The 2001 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
