liberal

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈlɪˌbɝːəl/ UK /ˈlɪb.(ə.)ɹəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #8736

Meanings

1

adj
Willing to respect and accept ideas, behaviour, or opinions different from your own.

Her parents had liberal ideas about raising children.
2

noun
A person who supports progressive or left-wing political and social views.

As a liberal, she campaigns for stronger environmental laws.
3

adj
Given or provided in large amounts; generous.

Add a liberal sprinkling of salt to the soup.
4

adj
Relating to a general education in arts and sciences rather than technical or job training.

He studied the liberal arts at university.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · willing to respect and... broad-mindedopen-mindedtolerant permissive

3 adj · given or provided in large... ample abundant generous

Word family

Forms liberals

Derived forms archliberalcounter-liberalcounterliberalhyperliberalliberal-mindedliberal-mindedlyliberal-mindednessliberaleseliberalishliberalisticliberalitisliberality

Related forms liberalismliberalistliberate liberation libertarian liberty

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

liberal party
a political party that advocates liberal principles or reforms

Adjective + noun

Proverbs (2)

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Etymology

The adjective is from Old French liberal, from Latin līberālis (“befitting a freeman”), from līber (“free”); it is attested since the 14th century. The noun is first attested in the 1800s.

*h₁lewdʰ- Proto-Indo-European liberal Old French līberālis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# liberal

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈlɪˌbɝːəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈlɪb.(ə.)ɹəl/
**Frequency rank:** 8736

## Meanings
1. Willing to respect and accept ideas, behaviour, or opinions different from your own.
2. A person who supports progressive or left-wing political and social views.
3. Given or provided in large amounts; generous.
4. Relating to a general education in arts and sciences rather than technical or job training.

## Examples
- Her parents had liberal ideas about raising children.
- As a liberal, she campaigns for stronger environmental laws.
- Add a liberal sprinkling of salt to the soup.
- He studied the liberal arts at university.

## Derived Forms
- archliberal
- counter-liberal
- counterliberal
- hyperliberal
- liberal-minded
- liberal-mindedly
- liberal-mindedness
- liberalese
- liberalish
- liberalistic
- liberalitis
- liberality

## Related Forms
- liberalism
- liberalist
- liberate
- liberation
- libertarian
- liberty

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₁lewdʰ-
- Root: liberal
- Root: līberālis

## Etymology
The adjective is from Old French liberal, from Latin līberālis (“befitting a freeman”), from līber (“free”); it is attested since the 14th century. The noun is first attested in the 1800s.

## AI Etymology
Liberal The adjective is from Old French liberal, from Latin līberālis (“befitting a freeman”), from līber (“free”); it is attested since the 14th century. The noun is first attested in the 1800s. The historical line also includes *h₁lewdʰ-.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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