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liberal Definition

lib·eral (lib′ər əl, lib′rəl)

adjective

  1. suitable for a freeman; not restricted: now only in liberal arts, liberal education, etc.
  2. giving freely; generous
  3. large or plentiful; ample; abundant a liberal reward
  4. ☆ not restricted to the literal meaning; not strict a liberal interpretation of the Bible
  5. tolerant of views differing from one's own; broad-minded; specif., not orthodox
  6. of democratic or republican forms of government, as distinguished from monarchies, aristocracies, etc.
  7. favoring reform or progress, as in religion, education, etc.; specif., favoring political reforms tending toward democracy and personal freedom for the individual; progressive
  8. designating or of a political party upholding liberal principles, esp. such a party in England or Canada
  9. Obsolete excessively free or indecorous in behavior; licentious

Etymology: OFr < L liberalis < liber, free < IE base *leudhero-, belonging to the people, free < base *leudh-, to grow up, rise > Ger leute, people, OE leodan, to grow

noun

  1. a person favoring liberalism
  2. a member of a liberal political party

liberal Related Forms

lib′·er·ally adverb lib′·er·al·ness noun

liberal Synonyms

liberal

modif.

  1. Openhanded

    unselfish, bountiful, benevolent; see generous 1, kind.

  2. Open-minded or progressive

    tolerant, open-minded, receptive, progressive, libertarian, reformist, advanced, left, radical, broadminded, understanding, permissive, lax, indulgent, unprejudiced, impartial, disinterested, reasonable, enlightened, unbigoted, undogmatic, unbiased, dispassionate, unorthodox, unconventional, avant-garde, broad-gauge, left-wing, left-of-center, freethinking, latitudinarian, magnanimous, fair, free, flexible, idealistic, high-minded, bleeding-heart*; see also lenient.

    Antonyms prejudiced*, narrow-minded*, conservative. *

  3. Plentiful

    abundant, profuse, bountiful; see plentiful 1.

liberal implies tolerance of others' views as well as open-mindedness to ideas that challenge tradition, established institutions, etc.; progressive, a relative term opposed to reactionary or conservative, is applied to persons favoring progress and reform in politics, education, etc. and connotes an inclination to more direct action than liberal; advanced specifically implies being ahead of the times, as in science, the arts, or philosophy; radical implies a favoring of fundamental or extreme change, specifically of the social structure; left, originally referring to the position in legislatures of the seats occupied by parties holding such views, implies political liberalism or radicalism

liberal Synonyms

liberal

n.

reformer, progressive, libertarian, insurgent, rebel, revolutionary, anarchist, socialist, communist, humanist, independent, individualist, extremist, eccentric, freethinker, leftist, left-winger; see also agitator.

liberal Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • bleed: Those who do are often dismissed as " bleeding heart liberals " who care more for the criminal than for their victims.
  • portray: A year-old who a film over portrays liberals as.
  • join: When he became disaffected with his party he migrated to join the Liberals in 1906.

Adjective modifier

  • egalitarian: Egalitarian liberals agree with libertarians that utilitarianism fails to take seriously the inviolability of the person.
  • classical: The bedrock value on which classical liberals ought to rest is freedom.
  • bourgeois: In this respect, as in many others, the gentlemen Anarchists fully imitate the bourgeois liberals.
  • theological: Those attacking the doctrine are certainly not all theological liberals; many conservatives too are uneasy with it.
  • moderate: The second female justice who is considered to be a moderate liberal.
  • Western: The Islamists want to draw the limits of world freedoms and the Western liberals reject that limitation.

Modifies a noun

  • democrat: Still the good news is the Liberal Democrats are poised for victory in Bristol.
  • democracy: Similar actions have been taken by liberal democracies in war.
  • MP: Two years later he was elected Liberal MP for Brighton.
  • bourgeoisie: At the same time, they overestimated the role of the liberal bourgeoisie and ignored the importance of the peasant movement.
  • sprinkling: It also boasts a large 13th-century castle, Kuressaare, now an absorbing museum, and a liberal sprinkling of medieval churches.
  • theologian: In the 19th century liberal theologians said God didn't communicate with the world.

Modifying Another Word

  • politically: Always politically liberal, he was active in charity and political work.
  • fairly: There are some holes in the story, however, which isn't really surprising considering the fairly liberal use of sharp objects.

Noun used with modifier

  • bleeding-heart: Only bleeding-heart liberals, subversives and anarchists could possibly object, and we know what should be done with them, don't we?
  • heart: Those who do are often dismissed as " bleeding heart liberals " who care more for the criminal than for their victims.

Used with adjective complement

vote: My father, practically a communist, having grown up in Salford between the wars, voted Liberal.