Thesaurus: liberal

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Definitions

1. a. Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or studies.
2. a. Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver.
3. a. Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient; abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as, a liberal gift; a liberal discharge of matter or of water.
4. a. Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the literal sense; free; as, a liberal translation of a classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.
5. a. Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic.
6. a. Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious.
7. a. Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion; not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the constitution or administration of government; having tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished from monarchical or aristocratic, forms; as, liberal thinkers; liberal Christians; the Liberal party.
8. n. One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the Liberal party, so called. Cf. Whig.
9. adj. showing or characterized by broad-mindedness
10. adj. having political or social views favoring reform and progress
11. adj. tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition
12. adj. given or giving freely