Word

liberal

adjective C1

/ˈlɪb.(ə.)ɹəl/

Meanings

adjective

Supporting political and social reform, civil liberties, and policies intended to reduce inequality.

adjective

Open-minded, tolerant, and willing to accept different ideas or lifestyles.

noun

A person who holds liberal political views.

Definition

Liberal usually describes someone or something that supports social and political change, individual rights, and government action to address inequality.

Liberal can describe political views that favor civil liberties and equal rights, and often support public policies that reduce inequality. It can also describe attitudes that are open-minded and tolerant of different ideas and lifestyles. In some contexts, it refers to an arts-and-humanities education rather than job-specific training. The exact meaning can vary by country and political system.

Examples

Her liberal stance on immigration shaped the way she argued in the university debate.
I grew more liberal over time after working with community organizations in different neighborhoods.
They described the candidate as liberal, but they still questioned whether his plans were realistic.
The newspaper ran a liberal editorial that emphasized civil liberties during the policy discussion.

Common mistake

Learners often assume liberal always means “left-wing” everywhere, but its meaning shifts across countries and contexts.