liberals
liberals — adjective
1. Willing to accept ways of thinking, behaving, or living that differ from your ow
Willing to accept ways of thinking, behaving, or living that differ from your own customs or beliefs.
Chen's parents were liberal enough to let him study art instead of medicine.
liberal enough to + infinitive
The school has a liberal policy on what students may wear to class.
Samir grew up in a liberal city where people of all faiths mix freely.
Rosa found her new workplace surprisingly liberal about working from home.
A liberal society protects the right to express opinions most people disagree with.
- open-minded
more informal, focuses on willingness to consider new ideas
- tolerant
emphasises patience toward views you may not share
- broad-minded
slightly old-fashioned but still common
- narrow-minded
unwilling to accept different views or lifestyles
- intolerant
actively rejecting or disapproving of differences
文法句型
liberal + about/in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often describes a society, policy, or person that does not judge or restrict others based on their choices.
常見錯誤
2. Holding the political view that individuals should have wide personal freedoms a
Holding the political view that individuals should have wide personal freedoms and that society should move toward greater fairness through gradual reform.
Zahra voted for the liberal candidate who promised better public healthcare.
The senator's liberal views on tax reform attracted many first-time voters.
liberal views on + topic
Hassan supports liberal policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality.
This newspaper has always taken a liberal stance on civil rights issues.
Xin joined a liberal student group campaigning for fairer housing laws.
- progressive
more active tone, emphasises forward-moving reform
- left-leaning
describes position on the political spectrum
- socially liberal
specifies beliefs about personal freedoms versus economic ones
- conservative
favours traditional values and slower change
- reactionary
wants to return to earlier social or political arrangements
文法句型
liberal + noun phrase (views/policies/government)
用法筆記
Used in political contexts. In many countries, liberal is contrasted with conservative. Distinguish from sense 1 (TOLERANT / OPEN-MINDED), which describes personal attitudes rather than political affiliation.
常見錯誤
3. Based on the principle that businesses and trade should face minimal government
Based on the principle that businesses and trade should face minimal government control, few regulations, and low tax rates.
The government adopted liberal economic policies to attract foreign investors.
liberal economic policies
Oluwaseun argued for a more liberal approach to cross-border trade.
Fatima's thesis examined the effects of liberal market reforms in West Africa.
Critics say liberal trade rules have hurt local manufacturing jobs.
Binta's company benefited from the country's liberal banking laws.
- free-market
more specific than liberal, used almost exclusively for economics
- laissez-faire
French loan phrase; strongly signals minimal government intervention
- deregulatory
focuses on removing existing rules rather than preventing new ones
- protectionist
favours tariffs and rules to shield domestic businesses
- regulated
describes an economy with many government controls
文法句型
liberal + noun phrase (economy/trade/market)
用法筆記
Predominantly used in formal writing about economics. In some contexts this sense conflicts with sense 2 (PROGRESSIVE), because economic liberals want fewer regulations while progressive liberals often want more regulations for fairness. Be careful which sense your reader expects.
常見錯誤
4. Given or giving freely in large quantity; significantly more than the usual or e
Given or giving freely in large quantity; significantly more than the usual or expected amount.
The charity received a liberal donation from an anonymous supporter.
Yuki's grandmother always served liberal portions of rice and stir-fried greens.
liberal portions of + food
The recipe calls for a liberal amount of garlic and fresh herbs.
Suki was liberal with her praise after the team presentation.
The company offers a liberal benefits package including paid parental leave.
文法句型
liberal + noun (portion/amount/donation)
用法筆記
Describes quantities (portions, amounts, helpings) rather than personal generosity. For a generous person, use generous rather than liberal in modern English.
常見錯誤
5. Not bound strictly by the exact wording, rules, or details; allowing flexibility
Not bound strictly by the exact wording, rules, or details; allowing flexibility in how something is understood or applied.
The translator took a liberal approach to the old poem's meaning.
took a liberal approach to + noun
Jing gave a liberal reading of the rules to avoid punishing anyone.
liberal reading of the rules
A liberal interpretation of the contract helped both sides reach a deal.
The historian offered a liberal translation of the ancient script.
The judge applied a liberal standard when reviewing the new evidence.
- loose
more informal; can sound slightly negative
- flexible
neutral tone; emphasises adaptability
- non-literal
describes interpretations that go beyond the exact words
文法句型
liberal + noun (interpretation/reading/translation)
用法筆記
Frequently appears in legal or academic writing about how documents, laws, or texts are understood. The opposite sense is strict or literal.
常見錯誤
liberals — noun
1. A person whose attitude is to accept and allow diverse opinions, lifestyles, and
A person whose attitude is to accept and allow diverse opinions, lifestyles, and beliefs without judging or restricting them.
The liberals in the neighbourhood welcomed the new temple and mosque.
Dan considers himself one of the liberals who support multicultural education.
liberals who support + noun
True liberals defend the right of others to disagree peacefully.
The town included both conservatives and liberals debating local issues.
Many young teachers identify as liberals on questions of school dress codes.
- open-minded person
clearer for learners; avoids political associations
- tolerant person
emphasises patience and acceptance of differences
- conservative
in attitude, prefers traditional ways and is cautious about change
- bigot
strongly negative; someone unwilling to accept other groups
文法句型
the + liberals
liberals who + verb
用法筆記
Describes personal character rather than party membership. In everyday speech, calling someone a liberal often refers to this sense — an open-minded person — before any political affiliation.
常見錯誤
2. Someone who supports political ideas that protect individual freedoms and promot
Someone who supports political ideas that protect individual freedoms and promote fairer distribution of resources through gradual, democratic change.
The liberals in parliament pushed for higher wages and universal healthcare.
liberals in + institution + verb
Guo registered as a liberal because he believed in fair taxation.
registered as a liberal
Minh debated with the conservatives about the role of the government.
The party's liberals called for stronger environmental protection laws.
Yuki joined a group of young liberals campaigning for affordable tuition.
- progressive
more active tone; suggests someone pushing for change
- left-winger
places the person on the political spectrum; less formal
- social democrat
specific to party systems in Europe and elsewhere
- conservative
opposes rapid change; values tradition and stability
- right-winger
places the person at the opposite end of the political spectrum
文法句型
the + liberals + verb (argue/propose/support)
liberals in + government/parliament/party
用法筆記
Frequently appears in news and political discussion. This sense can overlap with sense 1 (OPEN-MINDED PERSON), but here the focus is on specific political beliefs and party alignment rather than general tolerance.
常見錯誤
3. A person who believes that private businesses should operate with minimal govern
A person who believes that private businesses should operate with minimal government regulation and low taxation, and that free markets create the best economic outcomes.
Economic liberals argued that deregulation would create more jobs.
economic liberals + verb
Dan described himself as an economic liberal on trade policy.
economic liberal / described as a liberal
The debate between economic liberals and protectionists lasted three hours.
Xin's professor was a well-known liberal who favoured open world markets.
Free-market liberals opposed the new licensing rules for small shops.
- economic liberal
the full term; avoids confusion with political liberals
- free-marketeer
informal but precise
- laissez-faire advocate
formal; emphasises hands-off approach
- protectionist
favours tariffs and rules to protect domestic industries
- interventionist
believes government should actively manage the economy
文法句型
economic liberals + verb (favour/oppose/argue)
用法筆記
Always specify economic when you mean this sense, because political liberals (sense 2) often favour more regulation, creating confusion if only the word liberal is used.