Etymology

Adjective

1. Generous in quantity.

   Add a liberal sprinkling of salt.

2. A political description, following liberalism.
3. Based on optimistic assumptions.

   At a liberal estimate, growth could exceed 5% next year.

4. Favoring social freedom; permissive.

   Her parents had liberal ideas about child-rearing.

5. Favoring ideas that treat all people with equal justice regardless of educational, financial, sexual or racial status.
6. Opposing conservative positions, particularly those of social conservatives.
7. Opposing both conservative and socialist positions, particularly those of economic protectionists and authoritarians.
8. Related to classical liberalism.

Related terms

• liberalism
• liberalist
• liberate
• liberation
• libertarian
• liberty

Noun

1. One with liberal views, supporting individual liberty (see Wikipedia on Liberalism for a description of the various and diverging trends of liberalism).
2. A supporter of any of the particular liberal parties.
3. One opposing the views of a social conservative and favoring socially responsible taxes. Sometimes used pejoratively in political campaigns.
4. A person who favors individual voting rights, human and civil rights, individual gun rights, laissez-faire markets, and the gold standard.