Definition:
- (a.) Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or studies.
- (a.) Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver.
- (a.) Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient; abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as, a liberal gift; a liberal discharge of matter or of water.
- (a.) Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the literal sense; free; as, a liberal translation of a classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.
- (a.) Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic.
- (a.) Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious.
- (a.) Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion; not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the constitution or administration of government; having tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished from monarchical or aristocratic, forms; as, liberal thinkers; liberal Christians; the Liberal party.
- (n.) One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the Liberal party, so called. Cf. Whig.
Compare liberal with other words:
liberal vs. libral
liberal vs. literal
liberal vs. overfree
liberal vs. overliberal
liberal vs. tolerant
democrat vs. liberal
independent vs. liberal
lenient vs. liberal
liberal vs. tolerance
liberal vs. vigor
labor vs. liberal
abstract vs. liberal
illiterate vs. liberal
free vs. liberal
liberal vs. socialism
attached vs. liberal
liberal vs. ndper
liberal vs. whiggish
liberal vs. liberality
liberal vs. liberalization
liberal vs. liberally
lib vs. liberal
liberal vs. whig
grit vs. liberal
liberal vs. liberalize
liberal vs. libertine
frolic vs. liberal
catholic vs. liberal
figurative vs. liberal
liberal vs. munificent
liberal vs. orthodox
ample vs. liberal
liberal vs. liberty
liberal vs. liberate
liberal vs. liberation