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1. Dictionary

   liberal

   /ˈlɪb(ə)rəl/

   adjective

   • 1. willing to respect or accept behaviour or opinions different from one's own; open to new ideas: "they have liberal views on divorce" Similar tolerantunprejudicedunbigotedbroad-mindedopen-mindedenlightenedforbearingpermissivefreefree and easyeasy-goinglaissez-fairelibertarianlatitudinarianunbiasedimpartialnon-partisanindulgentlenientlaxsoftOpposite narrow-mindedbigoted
   • ▪ (in a political context) favouring policies that are socially progressive and promote social welfare: "they favour liberal ideologies over conservative ones" Similar progressiveforward-lookingforward-thinkingprogressivistgo-aheadenlightenedreformistradicalfreethinkingleft-wingleftistpolitically correctPCinformal:wokeright-onOpposite conservativereactionary
   • ▪ regarding many traditional beliefs as dispensable, invalidated by modern thought, or liable to change.
   • 2. relating to or denoting a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise: "a liberal democratic state" Similar progressiveforward-lookingforward-thinkingprogressivistgo-aheadenlightenedreformistradicalfreethinkingleft-wingleftistpolitically correctPCinformal:wokeright-onOpposite conservativereactionary
   • 3. relating to a Liberal party or (in the UK) the Liberal Democrat Party: "the Liberal leader"
   • 4. given, used, or occurring in generous amounts: "liberal amounts of wine had been consumed" Similar abundantcopiousampleplentifulgenerouslavishluxuriantprofuseconsiderableprolificrichgaloreexcessiveimmoderatesuperabundantoverabundantinformal:over the topliterary:plenteousOpposite scant
   • ▪ (of a person) giving generously: "Sam was too liberal with the wine" Similar generousmagnanimousopen-handedunsparingunstintingungrudginglavishfreemunificentbountifulbeneficentbenevolentbig-heartedkind-heartedkindphilanthropiccharitablealtruisticunselfishextravagantovergenerousgenerous to a faultimmoderatewastefuloverabundantprofligateprodigalthriftlessimprovidentintemperateunrestrainedwildinformal:over the topliterary:bounteousOpposite miserlycareful
   • 5. (of education) concerned with broadening a person's general knowledge and experience, rather than with technical or professional training: "the provision of liberal adult education" Similar wide-rangingbroad-basedgeneralhumanistic
   • 6. (especially of an interpretation of a law) broadly construed or understood; not strictly literal or exact: "they could have given the 1968 Act a more liberal interpretation" Similar flexiblebroadlooseroughnon-restrictivefreegeneralnon-literalnon-specificnot literalnot strictnot closeinexactimprecisevagueindefiniteill-definedunrigorousunmeticulousOpposite strictto the letter

   noun

   • 1. a supporter of policies that are socially progressive and promote social welfare: "are we dealing with a polarization between liberals and conservatives?"
   • 2. a supporter of a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise: "classical liberals emphasized the right of the individual to make decisions, even if the results dismayed their neighbours or injured themselves"
   • 3. a supporter or member of a Liberal party or (in the UK) the Liberal Democrat Party: "the Liberals are looking to defend a seat in Tuebrook and Stoneycroft"

   Word Origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin liberalis, from liber ‘free (man)’. The original sense was ‘suitable for a free man’, hence ‘suitable for a gentleman’ (one not tied to a trade), surviving in liberal arts. Another early sense ‘generous’ (compare with liberal (sense 4 of the adjective)) gave rise to an obsolete meaning ‘free from restraint’, leading to liberal (sense 1 of the adjective) (late 18th century).

   Derivatives

   • 1. liberalness noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishLIBERAL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   LIBERAL definition: 1. respecting and allowing many different types of beliefs or behaviour: 2. believing in or…. Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › liberalLiberal Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › liberal

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   The meaning of LIBERAL is inclined to be open to ideas and ways of behaving that are not conventional or traditional : broad-minded, tolerant. How to use liberal in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Liberal.

4. www.britannica.com › topic › liberalismLiberalism | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica

   www.britannica.com › topic › liberalism

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   Sep 5, 2024 · Liberalism has a close but sometimes uneasy relationship with democracy. At the centre of democratic doctrine is the belief that governments derive their authority from popular election; liberalism, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with the scope of governmental activity.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishLIBERAL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   Liberal means giving, using, or taking a lot of something, or existing in large quantities. As always he is liberal with his jokes. [+ with] She made liberal use of her elder sister's make-up and clothes. Synonyms: abundant, generous, handsome, lavish More Synonyms of liberal.

6. www.merriam-webster.com › wordplay › liberal-meaning-origin-historyWhat exactly is a 'liberal'? - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › wordplay › liberal-meaning-origin-history

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   One of these definitions we provide for liberal is “a person who believes that government should be active in supporting social and political change”; it is up to you to choose whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. In other words, “We define, you decide.”

7. www.dictionary.com › browse › liberalLIBERAL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › liberal

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   As a noun, liberal is used to refer to a person who has liberal views, especially on politics or religion. When capitalized, Liberal refers to a member of a liberal political party, such as the Liberal party of Great Britain.

8. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › liberalLiberal - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › liberal

   A liberal is someone on the left wing of politics — the opposite of a conservative. Also, a liberal attitude toward anything means more tolerance for change. There are many meanings for liberal, but they mostly have to do with freedom and openness to change.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishLIBERAL | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary - Cambridge ...

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   LIBERAL definition: 1. accepting beliefs and behaviour that are new or different from your own: 2. Liberal political…. Learn more.

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitionliberal adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

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    having or relating to political and social beliefs that support individual freedom and rights, democracy and free enterprise (= businesses competing against each other with little government control) Some politicians want more liberal trade relations with Europe. liberal democracy. liberal theories. a liberal politician.

11. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryLIBERAL | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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    not exact; without attention to or interest in detail: a liberal interpretation of the law. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.