lib·er·al·ize
ˈli-b(ə-)rə-ˌlīz 
liberalized; liberalizing
: to make liberal or more liberal
: to become liberal or more liberal
lib·er·al·i·za·tion
ˌli-b(ə-)rə-lə-ˈzā-shən
-ˌlī-ˈzā-
variants
also British liberalisation
: the act of liberalizing or the state of being liberalized
the liberalization of citizenship requirements—
Cecil Hobbs
Cecil Hobbscollege entrance requirements had … undergone considerable liberalization—Alfred Kähler
Alfred KählerExamples of liberalize in a Sentence
Verb
The country's immigration policies have begun to liberalize.
Recent Examples on the Web
Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 1 June 2026
Vadim begins by recounting his youth as the privileged son of a Soviet-era official who was cast aside under the liberalizing Gorbachev regime; the reversal of fortune roused the young Vadim to make the most of his life.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
The move threatens to raise tensions between regional adversaries in a country that is still recovering from a civil war that stymied attempts to liberalize one of Africa’s biggest economies.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
For Brioso, Cuban leaders are at fault for failing to build more resilient energy infrastructure and for going back on their Obama-era pledge to liberalize the stagnant state-run economy.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liberalize
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Verb
Dubai’s residential property prices surged by roughly 60% between 2022 and early 2025–a historic boom fueled by tax-free incentives, liberalized visa policies, and a heavy influx of high-net-worth individuals.
—Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 1 June 2026
Vadim begins by recounting his youth as the privileged son of a Soviet-era official who was cast aside under the liberalizing Gorbachev regime; the reversal of fortune roused the young Vadim to make the most of his life.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
The move threatens to raise tensions between regional adversaries in a country that is still recovering from a civil war that stymied attempts to liberalize one of Africa’s biggest economies.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
For Brioso, Cuban leaders are at fault for failing to build more resilient energy infrastructure and for going back on their Obama-era pledge to liberalize the stagnant state-run economy.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liberalize
Cite this Entry
“Liberalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberalize. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
liberalize
verb
lib·er·al·ize
ˈlib(-ə)-rə-ˌlīz
liberalized; liberalizing
: to make or become liberal or more liberal
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