libertarian

noun

lib·​er·​tar·​i·​an ˌli-bər-ˈter-ē-ən 

-ˈte-rē-

plural libertarians

1

: an adherent or advocate of libertarianism

Libertarians take individual freedom as the paramount political value and understand coercion to be the antithesis of that freedom. While people can justifiably be forced to do certain things—most obviously, to refrain from infringing the liberty of others—they cannot be coerced to serve the good of other members of society, nor even their own personal good.

—Bas van der Vossen and Billy Christmas

… the one big thing the libertarians knew and could explain better than anyone else—that the invisible hand of the market is a more reliable organizer of the economic life of nations than the visible hand of the state …

—Richard Cornuelle

2

Libertarian plural Libertarians : a member or supporter of a political party supporting or promoting libertarianism

a registered Libertarian

libertarian adjective

or less commonly Libertarian

… the libertarian ideology and rhetoric associated with "school choice," opposition to gun control, and the right of business to be free from government regulation.

—Alan Wolfe

the Libertarian party

Examples of libertarian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Taking the question further, and assuming the Fed capable of the magic that Democrats, Republicans and even libertarians ascribe to it, won’t private capital retreat overcome the Fed substituting itself for the marketplace in the first place? —John Tamny, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025

August was a month of celebration for libertarians, especially libertarian-leaning Republicans, but September is shaping up to be more of a fight. —W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025

Some students and civil libertarians say that widespread surveillance has gone too far, especially in places like Ann Arbor, where protests against the Gaza War have drawn intense police interactions. —John Wisely, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025

Ron Paul slams cruel response to Gaza famine; libertarians oppose starvation! —The Hill, 30 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing libertarian

• anti-libertarian

Rhymes for libertarian

• antiquarian
• millenarian
• nonsectarian
• proletarian
• sanitarian
• trinitarian
• unitarian
• vegetarian
• veterinarian
• agrarian
• aquarian
• barbarian

Kids Definition

libertarian

noun

lib·​er·​tar·​i·​an ˌlib-ər-ˈter-ē-ən 

: a person who believes in liberty of thought and action

libertarian adjective

libertarianism

-ē-ə-ˌniz-əm 

noun