¹liberal

adjective lib·er·al \ˈli-b(ə-)rəl\

: believing that government should be active in supporting social and political change : relating to or supporting political liberalism

Liberal : of or belonging to the liberal political party in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom

: not opposed to new ideas or ways of behaving that are not traditional or widely accepted

Full Definition of LIBERAL

a : of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts <liberal education>

b archaic : of or befitting a man of free birth

a : marked by generosity : openhanded <a liberal giver>

b : given or provided in a generous and openhanded way <a liberal meal>

c : ample, full

obsolete : lacking moral restraint : licentious

: not literal or strict : loose <a liberal translation>

: broad-minded; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms

a : of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism

b capitalized : of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political liberalism; especially : of or constituting a political party in the United Kingdom associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives

— lib·er·al·ly \-b(ə-)rə-lē\ adverb

— lib·er·al·ness noun

See liberal defined for English-language learners

See liberal defined for kids

Examples of LIBERAL

Many fishermen keep their holes from freezing over with liberal injections of antifreeze. —Time, 28 Feb. 1974
Alexandra looked at him mournfully. “I try to be more liberal about such things than I used to be. I try to realize that we are not all made alike …” —Willa Cather, O Pioneers!, 1913
This cost him considerable, for Dick was rather fastidious about his cigars, and wouldn't smoke the cheapest. Besides, having a liberal nature, he was generally ready to treat his companions. —Horatio Alger, Ragged Dick, 1868
On most issues he was thought of as a generally liberal figure, but on gun control he was live-free-or-die National Rifle Association man. —Jonathan Raban, Harper's, Aug. 1993
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Origin of LIBERAL

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin liberalis suitable for a freeman, generous, from liber free; perhaps akin to Old English lēodan to grow, Greek eleutheros free

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to LIBERAL

Synonyms: broad-minded, nonconventional, nonorthodox, nontraditional, open-minded, progressive, radical, unconventional, unorthodox

Antonyms: conservative, conventional, hidebound, nonprogressive, old-fashioned, orthodox, stodgy, traditional

Synonym Discussion of LIBERAL

liberal, generous, bountiful, munificent mean giving or given freely and unstintingly. liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given <a teacher liberal with her praise>. generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift <a generous offer of help>. bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing <children spoiled by bountiful presents>. munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes <a munificent foundation grant>.