liberal
liberal Lexical Profile
liberal Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one's own; open to new ideas and social progress.
"Her parents were remarkably liberal and encouraged her to explore diverse cultural perspectives."
Relating to or denoting a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and social reform.
"The constitutional amendment was championed by liberal lawmakers seeking to expand voting access."
Given, used, or occurring in generous or abundant amounts.
"The chef applied a liberal coating of olive oil and herbs to the roasted vegetables."
Concerned with broad general meaning rather than literal or strict exactness (especially of an interpretation or translation).
"The court adopted a liberal interpretation of the statute to account for modern digital communications."
Relating to a broad curriculum of general education in the humanities, arts, and sciences, as distinct from strictly technical or vocational training.
"A well-rounded liberal education equips students with critical thinking skills across multiple disciplines."
• noun
A person of liberal political or social views who favors individual liberty, democratic reform, and social progress.
"The panel brought together both liberals and conservatives to debate healthcare reform."
Word Nuance & Usage
In political discourse, "liberal" carries distinct regional meanings: in North America, it generally refers to center-left social and economic policies, whereas in Europe and Australia, it often denotes classical liberalism favoring free-market capitalism and limited government intervention.
• Rhymes for liberal
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French "liberal" and directly from Latin "liberalis" (befitting a free person, noble, generous), derived from "liber" (free). Historically, the "liberal arts" were the subjects of study considered essential for a free citizen in classical antiquity, in contrast to technical or servile trades.