liberal

Definitions

liber (free) + -al (relating to) = 'befitting a free person.' Latin līberālis first described what suited a free citizen — a broad education (the liberal arts). Because a secure, free person can give freely, it grew into 'generous,' and later, in politics, into 'favoring individual freedom and reform.'

Why It Means This

Liberal is a great example of one word fanning out from a single idea — 'free.' Originally a 'liberal' education was the kind a free man received, as opposed to a manual trade. Because freedom and security let you be open-handed, 'liberal' came to mean generous (a liberal donor). And because free people value individual rights, in modern politics 'liberal' means favoring personal freedom and reform. Same root, three faces: broad, generous, progressive.

Common Collocations

• 1.liberal arts博雅教育/文理科
• 2.liberal views开明的观点
• 3.liberal democracy自由民主
• 4.socially liberal社会观念开明
• 5.a liberal amount of大量的

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She has very liberal views on social issues.

• 2.

  He was liberal with his praise for the team.

• 3.

  The waiter gave us a liberal helping of dessert.

• 4.

  She studied at a liberal arts college.

• 5.

  The liberals and conservatives clashed over the new law.

Easily Confused

liberal vs generous — In the 'open-handed' sense they overlap, but generous is purely about giving (generous gift). Liberal adds a sense of 'freely, abundantly, without stinting' and is often used of amounts (a liberal sprinkle of salt) or attitudes (liberal with criticism), not just money.

Synonym Comparison