libertarian

American  

[lib-er-tair-ee-uhn] / ˌlɪb ərˈtɛər i ən /

noun

libertarians plural

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 (distinguished from necessitarian).

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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 British  

/ ˌlɪbəˈtɛərɪən /

noun

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

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

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adjective

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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• libertarianism
  noun
• antilibertarian
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• libertarians
  plural

Etymology

Origin of libertarian

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

Explanation

Someone who is a libertarian advocates the importance of the individual over government control — libertarians believe strongly in freedom. A libertarian holds onto the idea of a person's free will and individualism, with the word based on the Latin root liber, meaning “free.” In the U.S., libertarians can be to the left or the right of the political spectrum. A libertarian believes that someone should make his or her own decisions rather than rely on a political party line. If you think the government should keep its nose out of your business, then you might be a libertarian.

Example Sentences

He became an active member of the libertarian salon surrounding anti-government writer and philosopher Ayn Rand.

From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026

Milei says he manages his own account and spends hours each day reposting supporters who act as both cheerleaders and attack dogs for the wild-haired libertarian.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

ICE records obtained by the libertarian Cato Institute in September showed that nearly 1,800 of ATF’s roughly 2,500 agents had taken part in enforcement and removal operations.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, reported that ICE arrests of Cubans jumped from fewer than 200 a month in late 2024 to more than 1,000 per month in late 2025.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Compared to the despotic societies that were the norm in Europe and Asia, Haudenosaunee was a libertarian dream.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

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