noun
Uncommon
libertarian
lih-buh-TEH-uh-ree-uhn
Libertarian (noun) means someone who champions personal liberty and minimal government interference in people's lives and choices. Example: “As a libertarian, he opposed most government regulation of business.”
noun
1
Someone who champions personal liberty and minimal government interference in people's lives and choices.
"As a libertarian, he opposed most government regulation of business."
adj
1
Favouring maximum individual freedom and limited government control.
"The party ran on a libertarian platform of lower taxes and fewer restrictions."
How to use libertarian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or something) focused on maximizing personal freedom and minimizing government control.
Common mistake
Don't assume "libertarian" always means the same thing politically — it spans free-market conservatives and left-leaning anti-authoritarians depending on the country and era.
Common pairings
libertarian views
a libertarian party
libertarian philosophy
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Word forms
- Plural
- libertarians
- Comparative
- more libertarian
- Superlative
- most libertarian
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
As a _____, he opposed most government regulation of business.
Etymology
Built from liberty plus -arian ("a believer in"). First used in English in 1789 in a debate over free will, long before it took on its modern political meaning in the 20th century.
Class of 1789
libertarian joined the language around 1789.
See the full Class of 1789 →
Synonyms
View more →
free-marketeer
anti-statist
non-interventionist
Antonyms
necessitarian
Related words
Rhymes for libertarian
See all rhymes for libertarian →Frequently asked questions
What does “libertarian” mean?
The word “libertarian” means someone who champions personal liberty and minimal government interference in people's lives and choices. In plain terms, someone (or something) focused on maximizing personal freedom and minimizing government control.
How do you pronounce “libertarian”?
“Libertarian” is pronounced lih-buh-TEH-uh-ree-uhn (/ˌlɪbɚˈtɛə̯ɹi.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “libertarian” in a sentence?
Here is “libertarian” used in a sentence: “As a libertarian, he opposed most government regulation of business.”
What part of speech is “libertarian”?
Depending on how it is used, “libertarian” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “libertarian” come from?
The word “libertarian” dates back to around 1789. Built from liberty plus -arian ("a believer in"). First used in English in 1789 in a debate over free will, long before it took on its modern political meaning in the 20th century.
Is “libertarian” a common word?
“Libertarian” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “libertarian” have?
“Libertarian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone who champions personal liberty and minimal government interference in people's lives and choices.
What is the difference between a libertarian and a conservative?
A libertarian focuses on minimizing government interference across both personal and economic life, favouring maximum individual freedom. A conservative typically supports limited government on economic matters but may back government involvement in areas like social policy or law enforcement, so the two overlap but are not identical.
What is the difference between libertarian and liberal?
In modern usage, a liberal generally favours government action to promote social welfare and equality, while a libertarian favours minimal government interference in both economic and personal choices. The two terms can even conflict, since "liberal" historically also referred to individual-freedom values now associated with libertarian thought.
Is libertarian a political party or a philosophy?
Libertarian can describe either: it names a political philosophy centred on personal liberty and limited government, and it is also the label of specific political parties, such as the Libertarian Party, that are built around that philosophy.
