liberal
LIHB-ruhl
Liberal (adj) means Generous, open-handed, or given freely and in large amounts. Example: “He was liberal with his praise, always encouraging the junior staff.”
adj
1
Generous, open-handed, or given freely and in large amounts.
"He was liberal with his praise, always encouraging the junior staff."
"They served a liberal portion of dessert to every guest."
"She gave a liberal helping of cream to everyone at the table."
2
Open to new ideas and willing to question tradition; tolerant of different views and lifestyles.
"Her liberal upbringing meant she rarely judged other people's choices."
"Our teacher has a liberal attitude and welcomes unusual ideas in class."
"They live in a liberal town where people accept different lifestyles."
3
Favouring political and social reform, individual freedoms, and progressive change.
"The senator ran on a liberal platform focused on healthcare reform."
"He joined a liberal party that supports wider civil rights and reform."
"The newspaper takes a liberal view on social issues and personal freedom."
noun
1
A person who holds liberal political views, typically favouring reform and individual rights.
"Liberals and conservatives clashed over the new tax proposal."
"My uncle is a lifelong liberal who campaigns for individual freedoms."
"As a liberal, she supports reforms that protect the rights of minorities."
How to use liberal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGenerous, open-minded, or — in politics — in favour of reform and personal freedoms.
Common mistake
Meaning shifts by context: "liberal amount" just means generous/large; "liberal politics" is a specific ideological label, and its exact meaning (progressive vs. classical liberal) varies by country.
UK vs US
In the US, "liberal" usually means left-leaning; in the UK and elsewhere, "liberal" (classical liberalism) can mean pro-free-market and centrist, distinct from the left.
Common pairings
liberal arts
liberal views
a liberal amount
liberal democracy
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Word forms
- Plural
- liberals
- Comparative
- more liberal
- Superlative
- most liberal
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He was _____ with his praise, always encouraging the junior staff.
Etymology
From Old French liberal, from Latin liberalis, "befitting a free person," from liber, "free." The political sense (someone favouring reform and personal liberty) only developed much later, in the 1800s.
Class of 1800
liberal joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
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generous
abundant
plentiful
ample
lavish
copious
open-handed
progressive
liberalist
bounteous
big
bighearted
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for liberal
feral
literal
general
funeral
lateral
mineral
federal
several
visceral
ephemeral
bilateral
collateral
See all rhymes for liberal →
Frequently asked questions
What does “liberal” mean?
The word “liberal” means generous, open-handed, or given freely and in large amounts. In plain terms, generous, open-minded, or — in politics — in favour of reform and personal freedoms.
How do you pronounce “liberal”?
“Liberal” is pronounced LIHB-ruhl (/ˈlɪb.(ə.)ɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “liberal” in a sentence?
Here is “liberal” used in a sentence: “He was liberal with his praise, always encouraging the junior staff.”
What part of speech is “liberal”?
Depending on how it is used, “liberal” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “liberal” come from?
The word “liberal” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Latin. From Old French liberal, from Latin liberalis, "befitting a free person," from liber, "free." The political sense (someone favouring reform and personal liberty) only developed much later, in the 1800s.
Is “liberal” a common word?
“Liberal” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “liberal” have?
“Liberal” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: generous, open-handed, or given freely and in large amounts.
What does 'liberal' mean when it isn't about politics?
Outside politics, liberal means generous, plentiful, or freely given. A liberal helping of food is a large one, and someone liberal with praise gives it readily. It suggests openness and abundance rather than restraint, pouring or offering something in generous amounts without holding back.
What is an example of 'liberal' meaning generous?
"She was liberal with her time," "add a liberal amount of butter," and "he gave liberal donations to the school" all use this sense. In each, liberal describes something offered freely and in large quantity, the very opposite of stingy or sparing.
What is the difference between the two meanings of 'liberal'?
In politics, liberal describes views favouring individual freedom, reform, or, in the United States, the political left. In everyday use, it simply means generous or plentiful, as in a liberal serving. Both senses share a root idea of openness, but the context makes clear which is meant.
What is the opposite of 'liberal' in this sense?
When liberal means generous or abundant, its opposites are words like stingy, sparing, meagre, mean, or frugal. A liberal helping is large and freely given, while a meagre or sparing one is small and carefully limited. The contrast is between openhandedness and restraint.
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