English Reference
Noun

liberal

n. countable
C1 Advanced Oxford US /ˈɫɪˌbɝəɫ/ UK /lˈɪbəɹəl/ lib·er·al Politics

n.a person who believes in personal freedom and social progress. They usually support the government helping people and protecting individual rights.

n.a supporter of a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual. Often associated with the protection of civil liberties and, in modern contexts, state-led social reform.


SIMPLE

The liberals in the city voted for the new environmental law.

CONTEXTUAL

As a lifelong liberal, he campaigned tirelessly for marriage equality and expanded access to public healthcare.

COMPLEX

The tension between classical liberals, who prioritize market freedom, and social liberals, who advocate for a robust welfare state, continues to define much of modern political discourse.

Usage

Often capitalized when referring to a member of a specific political party, such as the Liberal Party in Canada or Australia.

Retaining young, educated and liberal people is vital to sustaining the growth that young economies, such as Israel, depend on, Michael Ben-Gad, a professor at City St George’s, University of London, said.

Al Jazeera· 20 Aug 2026

Pulitzer prize-winning US historian Jill Lepore’s new book addresses the threat posed to liberal democracy by artificial intelligence.

The Guardian· 19 Aug 2026

Common in business writing

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated