neoliberal

neoliberal — adjective

IPA/ˌniːəʊˈlɪbərəl/
KK[nˌiolˈɪbɚəl]IPA/ˌniːəʊˈlɪbərəl/
  • neoliberalpositive
  • more neoliberalcomparative
  • most neoliberalsuperlative

1. based on the idea that an economy works best when markets are free, taxes are lo

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

based on the idea that an economy works best when markets are free, taxes are low, and the government keeps its role in business as small as possible.

Example

Takeshi argued that the neoliberal reforms of the 1990s widened the gap between rich and poor.

attributive: neoliberal + noun (reforms, policies)

Critics say the city's neoliberal housing policy pushed long-time tenants out of their neighbourhoods.

collocation: neoliberal policy / reform / agenda

Common collocations
  • neoliberal reforms
  • neoliberal agenda
  • neoliberal policies
  • neoliberal economics
  • neoliberal model
Synonyms
  • free-market

    more neutral; describes a system rather than an ideology

  • laissez-faire

    older French-origin term; classical 18th-19th-century version of the same idea

  • market-oriented

    neutral; common in policy reports rather than political debate

Antonyms
  • interventionist

    favours strong government involvement in the economy

  • socialist

    favours public ownership and high public spending

Grammar Patterns

neoliberal + noun (policy, reform, agenda)

Usage Note

Almost always carries a critical tone in everyday journalism and academic writing; supporters rarely call themselves 'neoliberal' — opponents use the label.

Common Mistakes

He is neoliberal about his children's education.
He has a neoliberal approach to education policy.
neoliberal describes economic-political ideas, not personal styles of parenting or daily decisions.

neoliberal — noun

IPA/ˌniː.əʊˈlɪb.ər.əl/
KK[nˌiolˈɪbɚəl]IPA/ˌniː.oʊˈlɪb.ər.əl/

Word family

  • neoliberalism
    nounC1
  • neoliberally
    adverbC2
  • liberal
    adjectiveB2
  • liberalism
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a preference for free markets and a small state, but they differ in register and historical baggage. 'Free-market' is the most neutral and most common in news reporting; it simply describes a system where prices and decisions are set by private buyers and sellers. 'Laissez-faire' is older, French in origin, and points back to 18th- and 19th-century classical economics; today it sounds slightly academic. 'Neoliberal' is newer (mostly from the 1980s onward) and almost always carries a critical edge — writers use it to name an ideology they want to question, especially in debates about inequality. 'Libertarian' shares the small-state idea but stretches further into personal freedoms, drugs, and gun policy. For example: 'The think tank promotes free-market reforms' is neutral; 'The think tank pushes a neoliberal agenda' signals criticism.

neoliberal ↗laissez-faire ↗free-market ↗libertarian ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • the neoliberal era
  • neoliberal consensus
  • anti-neoliberal movement

Prepositions

  • against neoliberal policies
  • for neoliberal reform

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Formed from the prefix 'neo-' (Greek for 'new') and 'liberal'. The term first appeared in the 1930s but came into wide use in the 1980s and 1990s to describe the free-market policies promoted by leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, and by global bodies such as the IMF and World Bank.