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Definition of: liberal
(lib′ər·əl, lib′rəl) adjective
1. Possessing or manifesting a free and generous heart; bountiful.
2. Appropriate or fitting for a broad and enlightened mind: a liberal education; liberal arts.
3. Free from narrowness, bigotry, or bondage to authority or creed, as in religion; inclined to democratic or republican ideas, as opposed to monarchical or aristocratic, as in politics; broad; popular; progressive.
4. Bestowed without stint; abundant.
5. Not restricted to the literal meaning: a liberal construction.
6. Free by or from birth; hence, of high character; refined; independent.
7. Obs. Unduly free; licentious. See synonyms under AMPLE, CHARITABLE, GENEROUS.
—noun Any person who advocates liberty of thought, speech, or action; one who is opposed to conservatism: distinguished from radical. Also lib′er·al·ist. [<OF <L liberalis pertaining to a freeman <liber free]
—lib′er·al·is′tic adjective
—lib′er·al·ly adjective
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