liberal

Pluralliberals, Liberals

1. 1
   freedom politicsadjective

   Of a person's politics or a policy: favoring the political and social reform linked with liberalism, classical or modern, as a body of ideas rather than a named party.

   The liberal reformers of the nineteenth century pushed for free trade and a wider vote.

   The party's platform took a liberal line on immigration and civil rights.

   UsageTakes on before the issue: liberal on immigration, liberal on social questions.

   Similarprogressive, reformist

   Oppositeconservative, reactionary

   Note

   One word holds two traditions that can pull in opposite directions. Classical liberalism trusts free markets and distrusts government intervention (the historian Judith Rainhorn writes of a "liberal anti-interventionist credo"), while modern liberalism looks to government for reform. In arguments about markets or regulation, context usually shows which tradition is meant, though not always.

2. 2
   nounCanadianPhilippineUScountable

   A person who holds progressive or left-wing views, particularly on social issues and the environment.

   As a lifelong liberal, she has marched for abortion rights and stricter pollution limits.

   The bill drew support from liberals in both parties who wanted tougher emissions rules.

   UsageUsually the opposite of conservative. For readers in other countries, progressive or left-wing is less likely to be misread.

   Similarprogressive, leftist, left-winger

   Oppositeconservative, right-winger

   Note

   This is the left-of-center label of American, Canadian and Philippine politics, where a liberal is usually set against a conservative. Phil Ochs's 1966 song Love Me, I'm a Liberal turns the label into satire, mocking a liberal whose tolerance stops at the house next door.

3. 3
   broad-mindedadjective

   Open to new ideas, willing to break with established opinions or customs, and permissive rather than strict.

   The company has a liberal policy on remote work, letting staff choose where they work.

   Raised in a liberal household, he was free to question everything, including religion.

   UsageOften liberal about a matter, or a liberal policy on it: liberal about music, a liberal policy on remote work.

   Similartolerant, permissive, open-minded, broad-minded, progressive

   Oppositestrict, conservative, narrow-minded, intolerant

   Note

   Outside politics the word describes a temperament and the rules that follow from it: liberal ideas about child-rearing, a liberal household, a liberal policy on remote work. None of these says how anyone votes, and a parent with liberal ideas about bedtimes may well vote conservative. Once politics is the subject, the word usually shifts to the reform-minded political meaning.

4. 4
   general studyadjective

   Relating to the arts and sciences studied for general knowledge rather than for vocational, technical, or mechanical training, now mostly in set phrases such as liberal arts.

   The university requires every engineering student to take two liberal studies courses.

   She studied history and philosophy at a small liberal arts college before going on to law school.

   UsageMet almost entirely in a few set phrases: liberal arts, a liberal education, liberal studies.

   Note

   The Latin behind the word shows most plainly here: līberālis, from līber "free", meant "befitting a freeman", and these were the studies fit for a free person rather than training for a trade.

5. 5
   political partyadjective · Liberal

   Relating to the Liberal Party, its members, or its platform, policies, or views.

   The Liberal government in Ottawa introduced a national carbon price.

   Several Liberal backbenchers broke ranks to vote against the bill.

   UsageWritten with a capital L: a Liberal government, Liberal voters.

   Note

   It names allegiance rather than temperament, so a Liberal government's policy need not be liberal at all. Written with a capital L, it attaches to the party's people and plans: a Liberal government, Liberal voters, Liberal backbenchers. The matching noun is a Liberal Party supporter.

6. 6
   noun · Liberalcountable

   A member or supporter of a political party called the Liberal Party, such as those of Canada and Australia or Britain's historic Liberal Party.

   The Liberals lost a third of their seats but stayed in the coalition.

   As a young Liberal, he campaigned for free trade and lower tariffs.

   UsageWritten with a capital L; the Liberals often means the party as a whole, as in the Liberals lost seats.

   Note

   Parties named Liberal differ so much between countries that the capitalized noun says little about anyone's politics until the country is known: a Liberal in Canada, one in Australia and one in Britain support three different parties.

7. 7
   large amountadjective

   Present or given in a generous, plentiful quantity.

   Apply a liberal coat of wood glue to both surfaces before clamping them.

   The salad arrived with a liberal scattering of toasted walnuts.

   UsageUsually before a noun of amount: a liberal amount of, a liberal coat of, a liberal sprinkling of.

   Similargenerous, ample, plentiful, copious, abundant

   Oppositesparing, scant, skimpy

   Note

   Recipes and instructions lean on it, but it need not flatter: a liberal sprinkling of mud over someone's clothes is simply a lot of mud.

8. 8
   freedom supporternouncountable

   A person who holds to liberalism as a political philosophy, with individual liberty and rights at its center, in its general sense and not only the present-day left-wing one.

   A true liberal, he defended the free speech of people he strongly disagreed with.

   Liberals of every stripe have argued that the state should leave private conscience alone.

   Note

   The noun came centuries after the adjective: the adjective is recorded from the 14th century, the noun only from the 1800s. In this broad sense it names a person by outlook rather than by party, and it carries none of the regional coloring the word picks up in national politics. Source

   Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

   • The adjective is recorded from the 14th century and the noun from the 1800s, centuries later. en.wiktionary.org
9. 9
   giving freelyadjective

   Generous, giving freely and without holding back, whether money, praise, or freedom.

   The foundation has been liberal in its support of local schools.

   She was liberal with advice but stingy with her own time.

   UsageLiberal with what is given (liberal with praise), liberal in an activity (liberal in its support of schools).

   Similargenerous, lavish, free, unsparing

   Oppositestingy, mean, miserly, ungenerous

   Note

   Generosity here belongs to the giver, not the gift. When the plenty lies in the amount itself, as in a liberal helping, the word has moved to the "plentiful" meaning.

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