'Liberal' definitions:

Definition of 'liberal'

(from WordNet)
adjective
Showing or characterized by broad-mindedness; "a broad political stance"; "generous and broad sympathies"; "a liberal newspaper"; "tolerant of his opponent's opinions" [syn: broad, large-minded, liberal, tolerant]
adjective
Having political or social views favoring reform and progress
adjective
Tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition [ant: conservative]
adjective
Given or giving freely; "was a big tipper"; "the bounteous goodness of God"; "bountiful compliments"; "a freehanded host"; "a handsome allowance"; "Saturday's child is loving and giving"; "a liberal backer of the arts"; "a munificent gift"; "her fond and openhanded grandfather" [syn: big, bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, freehanded, handsome, giving, liberal, openhanded]
adjective
Not literal; "a loose interpretation of what she had been told"; "a free translation of the poem" [syn: free, loose, liberal]
noun
A person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties [syn: liberal, liberalist, progressive] [ant: conservative, conservativist]
noun
A person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets

Definition of 'Liberal'

From: GCIDE
  • Liberal \Lib"er*al\ (l[i^]b"[~e]r*al), a. [F. lib['e]ral, L. liberalis, from liber free; perh. akin to libet, lubet, it pleases, E. lief. Cf. Deliver.]
  • 1. 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. " Liberal education." --Macaulay. " A liberal tongue." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver. " Liberal of praise." --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
  • Infinitely good, and of his good As liberal and free as infinite. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • His wealth doth warrant a liberal dower. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious. " Most like a liberal villain." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • I confess I see nothing liberal in this " order of thoughts," as Hobbes elsewhere expresses it. --Hazlitt. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Liberal has of, sometimes with, before the thing bestowed, in before a word signifying action, and to before a person or object on which anything is bestowed; as, to be liberal of praise or censure; liberal with money; liberal in giving; liberal to the poor. [1913 Webster]
  • The liberal arts. See under Art.
  • Liberal education, education that enlarges and disciplines the mind and makes it master of its own powers, irrespective of the particular business or profession one may follow. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Generous; bountiful; munificent; beneficent; ample; large; profuse; free.
  • Usage: Liberal, Generous. Liberal is freeborn, and generous is highborn. The former is opposed to the ordinary feelings of a servile state, and implies largeness of spirit in giving, judging, acting, etc. The latter expresses that nobleness of soul which is peculiarly appropriate to those of high rank, -- a spirit that goes out of self, and finds its enjoyment in consulting the feelings and happiness of others. Generosity is measured by the extent of the sacrifices it makes; liberality, by the warmth of feeling which it manifests. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Liberal'

From: GCIDE
  • Liberal \Lib"er*al\, 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. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'liberal'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Liberal, MO -- U.S. city in Missouri

From: Gazetteer 2000
Name :
Liberal, MO -- U.S. city in Missouri
Population (2000) :
779
Housing Units (2000) :
361
Land area (2000) :
0.837014 sq. miles (2.167855 sq. km)
Water area (2000) :
0.006604 sq. miles (0.017103 sq. km)
Total area (2000) :
0.843618 sq. miles (2.184958 sq. km)
FIPS code :
41906
Located within :
Missouri (MO), FIPS 29
Location :
37.558860 N, 94.520546 W
ZIP Codes (1990) :
64762
Note :
some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.

Liberal, KS -- U.S. city in Kansas

From: Gazetteer 2000
Name :
Liberal, KS -- U.S. city in Kansas
Population (2000) :
19666
Housing Units (2000) :
7014
Land area (2000) :
11.058466 sq. miles (28.641294 sq. km)
Water area (2000) :
0.138334 sq. miles (0.358283 sq. km)
Total area (2000) :
11.196800 sq. miles (28.999577 sq. km)
FIPS code :
39825
Located within :
Kansas (KS), FIPS 20
Location :
37.043418 N, 100.928133 W
ZIP Codes (1990) :
67901
Note :
some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.

Words containing 'Liberal'