liberalize

verb

lib·​er·​al·​ize ˈli-b(ə-)rə-ˌlīz 

liberalized; liberalizing

transitive verb

: to make liberal or more liberal

intransitive verb

: to become liberal or more liberal

liberalization

ˌli-b(ə-)rə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

liberalizer

ˈli-b(ə-)rə-ˌlī-zər 

noun

Examples of liberalize in a Sentence

The country's immigration policies have begun to liberalize.

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Despite the country’s steep decline, the government has refused to carry out market reforms to liberalize its economy. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2026

Certainly, the long-term impact of the IMF’s liberalizing reforms were bleak. —Sven Van Mourik, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

liberal entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for liberalize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids Definition

liberalize

verb

lib·​er·​al·​ize ˈlib(-ə)-rə-ˌlīz 

liberalized; liberalizing

: to make or become liberal or more liberal

liberalization

ˌlib(-ə)-rə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun