Meaning & Definition of Liberal in English

1. A person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties

2. A person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets

1. Showing or characterized by broad-mindedness

• "A broad political stance"

• "Generous and broad sympathies"

• "A liberal newspaper"

• "Tolerant of his opponent's opinions"

2. Having political or social views favoring reform and progress

3. Tolerant of change

• Not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition

4. Given or giving freely

• "Was a big tipper"

• "The bounteous goodness of god"

• "Bountiful compliments"

• "A freehanded host"

• "A handsome allowance"

• "Saturday's child is loving and giving"

• "A liberal backer of the arts"

• "A munificent gift"

• "Her fond and openhanded grandfather"

5. Not literal

• "A loose interpretation of what she had been told"

• "A free translation of the poem"