neoliberal

American  

[nee-oh-lib-er-uhl, -lib-ruhl] / ˌni oʊˈlɪb ər əl, -ˈlɪb rəl /

adjective

1. being or relating to a faction of the liberal political movement that strongly supports free-market capitalism as the means for societal and human progress.

   The criticism of neoliberal policies among more left-leaning scholars has been going on for years.

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noun

1. a person who is politically liberal and strongly supports free-market capitalism as the means for societal and human progress.

   She was a popular candidate with neoliberals.

Etymology

Origin of neoliberal

First recorded in 1895–1900; neo- ( def. ) + liberal ( def. )

Example Sentences

The subsequent transnational, neoliberal economic order was also a gift to his country and the world, lifting billions out of poverty.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Economist Karen Harris at consulting firm Bain & Co. said "2025 will ultimately be seen as the year in which neoliberal globalisation ended and... the post-globalisation era began."

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

He is seen as this neoliberal, laissez-faire, "invisible hand" theorist, but that’s a caricature of the real Adam Smith.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2025

"He was tweeting neoliberal, happy-go-lucky things, and pride flags and so on, until around 2018, and the change happened pretty drastically after that," he said.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2024

But—as other historians of the era’s continuing impact on American life has recently articulated—there are tremendous continuities between the New Deal and neoliberal stripes of capitalism.

From Slate • Sep. 15, 2023