liberalize

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to make a law, system, or policy less restrictive and more open or permissive

   The government voted to liberalize the rules governing small businesses.

2. 2
   verb

   to become more open-minded, permissive, or politically liberal

   Public attitudes gradually liberalized during the following decade.

Formed from liberal + -ize. Liberal comes through French from Latin liberalis, 'befitting a free person,' from liber, 'free.' The verb first meant to make liberal and later became especially common for relaxing political or economic controls.

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