lib
lib Lexical Profile
lib Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An informal shortening of liberation, used especially in reference to social and political movements seeking equal rights.
"She was an active organizer in the women's lib movement during the 1970s."
An informal, often disparaging term for a political liberal or progressive.
"Partisan commentators on social media often trade insults between conservatives and libs."
In computing, a shorthand term for a software library containing reusable code routines or resources.
"Make sure all external dependencies are placed in the project's main lib directory before compiling."
• adjective
Informally holding or characterized by liberal political or social views.
"The podcast is popular among younger, more lib voters on college campuses."
• verb
Scottish To castrate or geld a male domestic animal (archaic or dialectal).
"In older rural farming traditions, the shepherd would lib the young rams in late spring."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used to refer to a person with liberal political views, 'lib' is informal and frequently carries a dismissive or derogatory tone in political discourse.
• Rhymes for lib
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the mid-20th century as an informal clipping of 'liberation' (as in 'women's lib') and independently of 'liberal'; the archaic dialectal verb meaning to castrate derives from Middle Dutch 'lubben'.