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lib·er·al (lbr-l, lbrl) adj. 1. a. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry. b. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded. c. Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism. d. Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States. 2. a. Tending to give freely; generous: a liberal benefactor. b. Generous in amount; ample: a liberal serving of potatoes. 3. Not strict or literal; loose or approximate: a liberal translation. 4. Of, relating to, or based on the traditional arts and sciences of a college or university curriculum: a liberal education. 5. a. Archaic Permissible or appropriate for a person of free birth; befitting a lady or gentleman. b. Obsolete Morally unrestrained; licentious. n. 1. A person with liberal ideas or opinions. 2. Liberal A member of a Liberal political party.
liber·al·ly adv. liber·al·ness n. Synonyms: liberal, bounteous, bountiful, freehanded, generous, handsome, munificent, openhanded These adjectives mean willing or marked by a willingness to give unstintingly: a liberal backer of the arts; a bounteous feast; bountiful compliments; a freehanded host; a generous donation; a handsome offer; a munificent gift; fond and openhanded grandparents. See Also Synonyms at broad-minded. Antonym: stingy liberal Adjective 1. having social and political views that favour progress and reform 2. generous in temperament or behaviour 3. tolerant of other people 4. using or existing in large quantities; lavish: the world's finest gadgetry, in liberal quantities 5. not rigid; free: a more liberal interpretation 6. (of an education) designed to develop general cultural interests and intellectual ability 7. Liberal of or relating to a Liberal Party Noun a person who has liberal ideas or opinions liberalism n liberally adv ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms Noun 1. liberalliberal - a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties liberalist, progressive adult, grownup - a fully developed person from maturity onward armchair liberal - a person of liberal ideals who takes no action to realize them latitudinarian - a person who is broad-minded and tolerant (especially in standards of religious belief and conduct) neoliberal - a liberal who subscribes to neoliberalism pluralist - someone who believes that distinct ethnic or cultural or religious groups can exist together in society Whig - a member of the political party that urged social reform in 18th and 19th century England; was the opposition party to the Tories conservative, conservativist - a person who is reluctant to accept changes and new ideas 2. liberal - a person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets adult, grownup - a fully developed person from maturity onward Adj. 1. liberalliberal - showing or characterized by broad-mindedness; "a broad political stance"; "generous and broad sympathies"; "a liberal newspaper"; "tolerant of his opponent's opinions" large-minded, tolerant, broad broad-minded - inclined to respect views and beliefs that differ from your own; "a judge who is broad-minded but even-handed" 2. liberal - having political or social views favoring reform and progress left - of or belonging to the political or intellectual left 3. liberal - tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition left - of or belonging to the political or intellectual left conservative - resistant to change 4. liberal - given or giving freely; "was a big tipper"; "the bounteous goodness of God"; "bountiful compliments"; "a freehanded host"; "a handsome allowance"; "Saturday's child is loving and giving"; "a liberal backer of the arts"; "a munificent gift"; "her fond and openhanded grandfather" bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, giving, openhanded, handsome, freehanded, big generous - willing to give and share unstintingly; "a generous donation" 5. liberal - not literal; "a loose interpretation of what she had been told"; "a free translation of the poem" loose, free inexact - not exact liberal adjective 1. tolerant, enlightened, open-minded, permissive, advanced, catholic, humanitarian, right-on (informal) indulgent, easy-going, unbiased, high-minded, broad-minded, unprejudiced, unbigoted, politically correct or PC << OPPOSITE intolerant adjective 2. progressive, radical, reformist, libertarian, advanced, right-on (informal) forward-looking, humanistic, free-thinking, latitudinarian, politically correct or PC << OPPOSITE conservative adjective 3. abundant, generous, handsome, lavish, ample, rich, plentiful, copious, bountiful, profuse, munificent << OPPOSITE limited adjective 4. generous, kind, charitable, extravagant, free-handed, prodigal, altruistic, open-hearted, bountiful, magnanimous, open-handed, unstinting, beneficent, bounteous << OPPOSITE stingy adjective 5. flexible, general, broad, rough, free, loose, lenient, not close, inexact, not strict, not literal << OPPOSITE strict
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