1. Showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
   "a liberal newspaper";
   - broad, large-minded, tolerant
    
2. Having political or social views favouring reform and progress
   "The liberal candidate campaigned on a platform of social change"
    
3. Tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition
   "The school's liberal policies encouraged creative thinking among students"
    
4. Given or giving freely
   "a liberal backer of the arts";
   - big, bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, freehanded, handsome, giving, openhanded
    
5. Not literal
   "a liberal translation of the poem";
   - free, loose

1. A person who favours a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties
   "The liberal advocated for stronger environmental protection laws";
   - liberalist, progressive
    
2. A person who favours an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets
   "As a liberal, he argued against government intervention in the economy"

1. A supporter of the Liberal party
   - Lib [Austral, informal]
    
2. [UK] Member or supporter of the Liberal Democrats
   - Liberal Democrat [UK], Lib-Dem [UK]

Derived forms: liberals, Liberals

See also: broad-minded, civil-libertarian, generous, ideology, inexact, left, liberalistic, mythos, neoliberal, political orientation, political theory, progressive, reformist, reform-minded, socialised [Brit], socialized, welfare-statist, welfarist

Type of: actor, doer, worker

Antonym: conservative

Encyclopedia: Liberal, Kansas micropolitan area