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Noun: liberal  li-b(u-)rul
  1. A person who favours a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties
    - liberalist, progressive
     
  2. A person who favours an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets
Adjective: liberal  li-b(u-)rul
  1. Showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
    "a liberal newspaper";
    - broad, large-minded, tolerant
     
  2. Tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition
     
  3. Having political or social views favouring reform and progress
     
  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
Noun: Liberal
  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: adult, grownup

Antonym: conservative

Encyclopedia: Liberal, Kansas micropolitan area