liberal
/ˈlɪbərəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪbərəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈli-b(ə-)rəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈlɪb.ər.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪb.ər.əl/ (ame, ipa)
liberal — adjective
- liberalpositive
- more liberalcomparative
- most liberalsuperlative
1. Willing to accept and value a wide range of beliefs and personal choices, includ
Willing to accept and value a wide range of beliefs and personal choices, including those that differ from what society considers traditional or conventional.
Imran grew up in a liberal household where all political views were discussed openly.
collocation: liberal household / liberal society
The city is known for its liberal attitudes toward different lifestyles and cultures.
collocation: liberal attitudes toward
Mizuki's parents held liberal views and raised her to question tradition.
A liberal society protects the right of people to follow their own beliefs.
The village had a liberal atmosphere where people from many faiths lived side by side.
- open-minded
more about willingness to consider new ideas; less political than 'liberal'
- tolerant
focuses on accepting others' practices without necessarily agreeing
- broad-minded
older term, similar to open-minded but slightly formal
- narrow-minded
unwilling to accept different beliefs or behaviour
- conservative
preferring tradition and resisting change
文法句型
be liberal about [beliefs/behaviour]
liberal [attitudes/views/society]
用法筆記
Often used to describe societies, families, or institutions that accept non-traditional lifestyles, beliefs, or behaviours. The preposition 'about' is common: 'liberal about something.'
常見錯誤
2. Supporting policies that increase personal freedom and make society more equal b
Supporting policies that increase personal freedom and make society more equal by gradually sharing wealth, property, and power more fairly among all citizens.
The liberal candidate promised to raise taxes on the wealthy to fund better schools.
attributive: liberal candidate / liberal government
Élise supports liberal policies that reduce the gap between rich and poor.
collocation: liberal policies
Under a liberal government, the country expanded free healthcare to all citizens.
Many young voters prefer a liberal party that invests in public services.
The newspaper takes a liberal stance on social issues like same-sex marriage.
- progressive
very similar but often implies stronger commitment to active reform; increasingly preferred in US politics
- left-wing
broader term; can include more radical positions like socialism
- reformist
focuses on changing specific laws rather than a whole political philosophy
- conservative
favours tradition and limited government action on social issues
- right-wing
broad term for opposing progressive social and economic policies
文法句型
liberal [candidate/government/party/policies]
be politically liberal
用法筆記
In modern political discourse, this sense implies centre-left positions: support for social welfare, civil rights, and environmental protection. Distinguish from sense 3 (ECONOMIC FREEDOM), which advocates minimal government intervention in markets.
常見錯誤
3. Supporting economic systems in which businesses operate with few government cont
Supporting economic systems in which businesses operate with few government controls, low taxes, and minimal regulation so that competition and free trade drive growth.
The economist argued that liberal trade policies would help the economy grow.
collocation: liberal trade policies
Adisa's government pursued liberal economic reforms, cutting taxes and removing controls.
Critics say liberal market policies mostly benefit large corporations, not workers.
A liberal economic system relies on competition between private companies.
The country's liberal trade policies helped local businesses access international markets.
- free-market
directly describes the economic philosophy without the broader political connotations
- laissez-faire
French term for minimal government intervention; more formal and historically specific
- neoliberal
modern form of economic liberalism, often used critically by opponents
- protectionist
favours trade barriers and government control of markets
- regulated
describing an economy with strict government rules
文法句型
liberal [trade/market/economic] [policies/reforms/system]
用法筆記
This sense describes 'economic liberalism' or 'classical liberalism' — the belief in free markets and limited government. It often contrasts with 'liberal' in the political-progressive sense (sense 2), which supports more government intervention for social equality. Adding 'economic' or 'market' before 'liberal' disambiguates this sense.
常見錯誤
4. Giving or given freely and in large amounts, especially of money, food, or other
Giving or given freely and in large amounts, especially of money, food, or other material resources.
The charity received a liberal donation from someone who wanted to stay anonymous.
collocation: liberal donation
Grandma always served liberal portions of rice and vegetables at dinner.
collocation: liberal portions of
The company offers a liberal benefits package with six weeks of paid leave.
Rania applied a liberal amount of sunscreen before going to the beach.
Elena added a liberal dash of hot sauce to her soup before eating it.
- generous
more common and general; works for both material and non-material giving
- open-handed
more informal and descriptive
- ample
describes the amount itself rather than the giver's attitude
文法句型
be liberal with [money/food/resources]
liberal [portion/donation/amount]
用法筆記
Commonly used with concrete nouns describing things given or spent: 'a liberal donation,' 'a liberal portion,' 'a liberal amount.' For people, the pattern 'liberal with [something]' is typical, e.g. 'liberal with his money.' Avoid using this sense for non-material things like time or attention — 'generous' sounds more natural there.
常見錯誤
5. Not following rules, details, or the exact original form very strictly; allowing
Not following rules, details, or the exact original form very strictly; allowing a broad or flexible understanding instead of a precise one.
The translator took a liberal approach, keeping the poem's feeling over its exact words.
collocation: liberal approach
The judge gave a liberal reading of the contract, letting both sides renegotiate.
collocation: liberal reading of [document]
Christopher's liberal interpretation of the rules meant nobody knew what was actually banned.
The teacher accepted a liberal translation that captured the idea rather than every word.
文法句型
liberal [interpretation/reading/translation/approach]
用法筆記
Almost always used before nouns like 'interpretation,' 'reading,' 'translation,' or 'approach.' The focus is on flexibility rather than accuracy. This sense can carry a mildly negative tone when the speaker thinks precision was needed.
常見錯誤
6. Relating to a type of education that develops general knowledge, critical thinki
Relating to a type of education that develops general knowledge, critical thinking, and broad understanding across many subjects rather than teaching specific job skills.
Padma chose a liberal arts college to study history, philosophy, and biology.
collocation: liberal arts college
A liberal education teaches students how to think across different subjects.
collocation: liberal education
The university's liberal arts programme requires courses in literature and mathematics.
A liberal arts college focuses on teaching students how to think rather than what to think.
- general
broader term for non-specialised education
- broad-based
describes the curriculum scope without the institutional tradition
- vocational
focused on specific job skills and training
- specialised
concentrated in one field or discipline
文法句型
liberal arts [college/education/background]
liberal [education/studies]
用法筆記
Primarily used in North American education systems. 'Liberal arts' refers to humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences as a broad curriculum. Outside the US, 'liberal education' or 'general education' may be preferred. This sense is almost always followed by 'arts,' 'education,' 'college,' or 'background.'
常見錯誤
liberal — noun
- liberalsingular
- liberalsplural
1. A person who supports progressive social policies, personal freedom, and gradual
A person who supports progressive social policies, personal freedom, and gradual change that shares wealth, property, and power more fairly among all members of society.
As a liberal, Maeve supports higher spending on public healthcare and schools.
phrase: as a liberal
Liberals in parliament pushed for a law that protects workers' rights.
the + plural: liberals in parliament
The election showed voters shifting toward liberals in urban areas.
Both liberals and conservatives agreed on the need for education reform.
The senator is a liberal who believes government should help the poorest citizens.
- progressive
increasingly preferred by those who hold such views; emphasises active reform
- left-winger
broader; can include more radical positions beyond mainstream liberalism
- conservative
someone who prefers traditional social structures and limited government
- right-winger
broad term for those opposing progressive change
文法句型
a/the liberal
liberals in [parliament/government]
as a liberal
用法筆記
This is the most common noun sense in modern media and political discussion. In the US, 'liberals' are associated with the Democratic Party. In the UK, 'liberals' may refer to members of the Liberal Democrats. In many countries, the term is used broadly for centre-left political positions.
常見錯誤
2. A person who accepts and respects a wide range of beliefs and lifestyles, even w
A person who accepts and respects a wide range of beliefs and lifestyles, even when these differ from their own or from what is traditional.
Uncle Otis is a true liberal who believes everyone should live as they choose.
predicative: is a liberal
In the debate, the liberals argued for greater acceptance of different cultures.
the + plural: the liberals argued
The community includes both conservatives and liberals who respect each other.
My grandmother was a liberal in the best sense — she never judged anyone.
Among the villagers, Grandfather was known as a liberal who never scolded anyone for their choices.
- open-minded person
more transparent — describes the quality without political associations
- tolerant person
direct and unambiguous
- bigot
a person who is intolerant of other beliefs or groups
- conservative
in the social sense — someone who prefers traditional ways
文法句型
a liberal
the liberals
用法筆記
This sense focuses on personal tolerance and open-mindedness rather than political affiliation. It is less common in modern political discourse than sense 1. When used without context, most readers will assume the political meaning rather than the general tolerant meaning.
常見錯誤
3. A person who believes that businesses and markets should operate with minimal go
A person who believes that businesses and markets should operate with minimal government regulation, low taxes, and free trade, and that competition drives economic growth and prosperity.
Niran describes himself as a classical liberal who favours free trade and small government.
phrase: classical liberal
Economic liberals argue that deregulation creates jobs and encourages innovation.
phrase: economic liberals
The debate between economic liberals and protectionists shaped the new trade deal.
Classical liberals believe low taxes allow businesses to invest and expand.
- libertarian
more extreme — favours even less government, often opposing all state intervention
- free-market advocate
descriptive phrase without ideological label
- protectionist
someone who favours trade barriers and government market control
- social democrat
supports stronger government involvement in the economy for equality
文法句型
a classical liberal
economic liberals
用法筆記
Often requires a qualifier like 'classical' or 'economic' to distinguish from sense 1, since the two meanings are politically opposite on economic issues. 'Classical liberal' refers to the 18th-19th century tradition of thinkers like Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill, who advocated free markets alongside personal freedom.