libertarian

[lib-er-tair-ee-uhn]

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 (necessitarian ).

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

/ ˌlɪbəˈtɛərɪən /

noun

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

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

adjective

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

Other Word Forms

• libertarianism noun
• antilibertarian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of libertarian¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of libertarian¹

C18: from _liberty

Example Sentences

Created following the 2008 global financial crisis, bitcoin initially promoted a libertarian ideal and aspired to overthrow traditional monetary and financial institutions, such as central banks.

Read more on Barron's

The 49-year-old libertarian MP, who has been compared to Argentina's Javier Milei for his plans to radically downsize the state, campaigned as an outsider who shoots from the hip on crime, communism and family values.

Read more on Barron's

The heavily Republican city for years hosted the state’s Republican Party convention and donor retreats organized by right-wing libertarians David and Charles Koch.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Morality aside, it is in the self-interest of Republicans, conservatives and libertarians to make sure they fail.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Free-speech advocates and civil libertarians denounced the arrest as a chilling example of law enforcement overreach.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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