liberal

UK: 'liberal', 'Liberal': /ˈlɪb^ərəl/

US: /ˈlɪbərəl, ˈlɪbrəl/

US: 'liberal', 'Liberal': (lib′ər əl, lib′rəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

lib•er•al /ˈlɪbərəl, ˈlɪbrəl/   adj. 

1. Government favorable to progress, change, or reform, as in political or religious affairs:
   establishing a liberal democracy in the former totalitarian regime.
2. Government [often: Liberal] of or relating to a political party calling for measures favorable to progress, change, or reform.
3. free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant;
   open-minded:
   liberal views on child-raising.
4. generous:
   a liberal donation.
5. free;
   not literal:
   a liberal interpretation of the rules.
6. Education of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts:
   a liberal education.

n. [countable]

7. Government a person of liberal principles or views.
8. Government [often: Liberal] a member of a liberal political party.

lib•er•al•i•ty /ˌlɪbəˈrælɪti/  n. [uncountable]
lib•er•al•ly, adv. See -liber-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lib•er•al  (lib′ər əl, lib′rəl), adj. 

1. Government favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.
2. Government (often cap.) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform.
3. Government of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating liberalism.
4. Government favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.
5. Government favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression:
   a liberal policy toward dissident artists and writers.
6. Government of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies.
7. free from prejudice or bigotry;
   tolerant:
   a liberal attitude toward foreigners.
8. open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.
9. characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts:
   a liberal donor.
10. given freely or abundantly;
    generous:
    a liberal donation.
11. not strict or rigorous;
    free;
    not literal:
    a liberal interpretation of a rule.
12. Education of, pertaining to, or based on the liberal arts.
13. Government of, pertaining to, or befitting a freeman.

n. 

14. Government a person of liberal principles or views, esp. in politics or religion.
15. Government (often cap.) a member of a liberal party in politics, esp. of the Liberal party in Great Britain.

• Latin līberālis of freedom, befitting the free, equivalent. to līber free + -ālis -al¹
• Middle English 1325–75

lib′er•al•ly, adv. 
lib′er•al•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. progressive.
• 7. broad-minded, unprejudiced.
• 9. beneficent, charitable, openhanded, munificent, unstinting, lavish. See generous. 
• 10. See ample. 

Antonyms

• 1. reactionary.
• 8. intolerant.
• 9, 10. niggardly.

Lib•er•al  (lib′ər əl, lib′rəl), n. 

1. Place Names a city in SW Kansas. 14,911.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

liberal / ˈlɪbərəl ˈlɪbrəl/ adjective

1. relating to or having social and political views that favour progress and reform
2. relating to or having policies or views advocating individual freedom
3. giving and generous in temperament or behaviour
4. tolerant of other people
5. abundant; lavish: a liberal helping of cream
6. not strict; free: a liberal translation
7. of or relating to an education that aims to develop general cultural interests and intellectual ability

noun

1. a person who has liberal ideas or opinions

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin līberālis of freedom, from līber free

ˈliberally adverb

ˈliberalness noun

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Liberal / ˈlɪbərəl ˈlɪbrəl/ noun

1. a member or supporter of a Liberal party or Liberal Democrat party

adjective

1. of or relating to a Liberal party or Liberal Democrat party