Test Your Vocabulary

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Name That Thing

Take our visual vocab quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

True or False?

A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing

Take It Now »

Join Us on FB & Twitter

Get the Word of the Day and More

Facebook | Twitter

liberal

10 ENTRIES FOUND:

1lib·er·al

adj \ˈli-b(ə-)rəl\

Definition of LIBERAL

1
a : of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts <liberal education> b archaic : of or befitting a man of free birth
2
a : marked by generosity : openhanded <a liberal giver> b : given or provided in a generous and openhanded way <a liberal meal> c : ample, full
3
obsolete : lacking moral restraint : licentious
4
: not literal or strict : loose <a liberal translation>
5
: broad-minded; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms
6
a : of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism b capitalized : of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political liberalism; especially : of or constituting a political party in the United Kingdom associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives
lib·er·al·ly \-b(ə-)rə-lē\ adverb
lib·er·al·ness noun

Examples of LIBERAL

  1. She is a liberal Democrat who married a conservative Republican.
  2. She has a liberal attitude toward sex.
  3. He made a very liberal donation to the museum.
  4. Many fishermen keep their holes from freezing over with liberal injections of antifreeze. —Time, 28 Feb. 1974

Origin of LIBERAL

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin liberalis suitable for a freeman, generous, from liber free; perhaps akin to Old English lēodan to grow, Greek eleutheros free
First Known Use: 14th century

Synonym Discussion of LIBERAL

liberal, generous, bountiful, munificent mean giving or given freely and unstintingly. liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given <a teacher liberal with her praise>. generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift <a generous offer of help>. bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing <children spoiled by bountiful presents>. munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes <a munificent foundation grant>.

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: liberal arts
Previous Word in the Dictionary: Libera
All Words Near: liberal

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up liberal? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).