Liberal

Table of contents

1 English 1.1 Adjective 1.2 Related Terms 1.3 See Also 1.4 Translations 1.5 Noun 1.6 Proper Noun

English

Adjective

1. Generous in quantity

   Add a liberal sprinkling of salt.

2. Based on optimistic assumptions.

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

3. Favouring social freedom; permissive

   Her parents had liberal ideas about child-rearing.

   She has a liberal view of abortion.

4. Favoring reform and government activism, and opposing strict regulation.
5. (US) Opposing conservative positions, particularly those of social conservatives.
6. (US) In favor of raising taxes. Generally used pejoratively in political campaigns.
7. (UK) Pertaining to the Liberal Democrats .
8. Supporting a Liberal political party

Related Terms

• liberty
• libertarian
• liberal arts

See Also

• conservative

Translations

• Dutch: liberaal , liberale
• Finnish: liberaali
• French: libéral, libérale
• German: liberal
• Indonesian: liberal, bebas (?)
• Italian: liberale (4, 8)
• Japanese: リベラル (riberaru), 自由 (じゆう , jiyū) (?)
• Polish: liberalny

Noun

liberal

1. One with liberal views.
2. (US) One opposing the views of a social conservative and favoring higher taxes. Generally used pejoratively in political campaigns.
3. A person who favors individual voting rights, human and civil rights, laissez-faire markets, and the gold standard.

Proper Noun

Liberal

1. (UK) A Liberal Democrat .