liberalize

verb

lib·​er·​al·​ize ˈli-b(ə-)rə-ˌlīz How to pronounce liberalize (audio)
liberalized; liberalizing

transitive verb

: to make liberal or more liberal

intransitive verb

: to become liberal or more liberal
liberalization noun
liberalizer noun

Examples of liberalize in a Sentence

The country's immigration policies have begun to liberalize.
Recent Examples on the Web As the Nationalists liberalized and Taiwan moved to democracy, D.P.P. politicians sought to galvanize support by calling for Taiwan’s formal independence. Amy Chang Chien Lam Yik Fei, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024 And there is almost a bipartisan consensus that the previous era of engagement with Beijing was a mistake, predicated on the erroneous assumption that increased trade with China would magically liberalize its political system. Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 As China’s economy liberalized decades later, skyscrapers and five-star hotels rose up in Shenzhen, looming over Hong Kong’s rugged and still-agrarian New Territories outside its central business district. Theodora Yu, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024 Success will be measured not by the extent to which the United States can convince China to liberalize and embrace the U.S.-led international order but by Washington’s ability to maintain its economic leadership, strengthen alliances, and avoid catastrophic outcomes. Peter E. Harrell, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023 In 2024, there will be another chance for proponents to try to liberalize the church's teachings. Sarah Maddox, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2023 But as India’s economy transformed and liberalized — amid impetus to match China’s interstellar moves — India’s orientation toward space has changed. Sammy Westfall, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023 King Abdullah has pledged in recent years to liberalize Jordan’s autocracy. Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2023 Washington liberalized critical infrastructure, and the government looked on with indifference as U.S. telecommunications manufacturers, such as Lucent, were bought out by foreign firms or went under. Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'liberalize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of liberalize was in 1765

Dictionary Entries Near liberalize

Cite this Entry

“Liberalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberalize. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

liberalize

verb
lib·​er·​al·​ize ˈlib(-ə)-rə-ˌlīz How to pronounce liberalize (audio)
liberalized; liberalizing
: to make or become liberal or more liberal
liberalization noun

More from Merriam-Webster on liberalize

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