# Lib

/ˈɫɪb/ (US) · /lˈɪb/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lib
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a liberal person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a short, often informal way to say 'liberal', referring to someone with progressive political views.

For teachers: a clipping of 'liberal', typically used to refer to a member or supporter of a liberal political party or ideology.

- The talk show host often argued with the libs on his program.
- Political commentators frequently use the term 'lib' when addressing a partisan audience, though it often carries a pejorative undertone in such contexts.

### 2. liberation

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a short way to say 'liberation', used in the names of social or political movements.

For teachers: an abbreviation for 'liberation', most commonly encountered in the names of social movements or activist groups.

- She was a strong supporter of women's lib in the 1970s.
- The phrase 'women's lib' became a ubiquitous shorthand during the second-wave feminist movement to describe the push for social and legal equality.

### 3. a library

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

a very informal short name for a library, often used by students.

For teachers: a clipping of 'library', restricted to highly informal or collegiate registers.

- I'll meet you at the lib after class to finish the project.
- University students often refer to the main campus building simply as 'the lib' when coordinating study sessions during finals week.

### 4. lithium-ion battery

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a technical short name for a lithium-ion battery.

For teachers: an initialism or abbreviation for lithium-ion battery, used in technical and manufacturing contexts.

- The new smartphone design requires a high-capacity lib to last all day.
- Advancements in lib technology are critical for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and long-range portable electronics.

### 5. to castrate an animal

verb · CEFR C2 · Dialect · British English

a regional word meaning to remove the sex organs of an animal.

For teachers: to geld or castrate, typically used in reference to livestock.

- The farmer had to lib the lambs before the end of the season.
- In certain northern dialects, the term 'lib' is still employed by older generations of farmers when discussing the management of their livestock.

## Examples

- He often argues with the libs on social media.
- The commentator used the term lib to mock the protesters' demands for new environmental regulations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.