Liberal
/ˈlɪbərəl/
adjectivenounB2
Definition
As an adjective, liberal describes someone or something that is open-minded, accepting new or different ideas, and willing to allow freedom in thinking or behavior. As a noun, a liberal is a person who believes in freedom, equality, and social progress, often supporting changes in society or government that help people have more rights.
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See It in Action
Open to new ideas and willing to accept different opinions (adjective)
- •She has a liberal attitude toward art and culture.
- •The teacher was liberal in allowing students to choose their own topics.
- •They live in a liberal city where people respect different lifestyles.
A person who supports freedom, equality, and social change (noun)
- •Many liberals support laws that protect human rights.
- •He is a well-known liberal who works for social justice.
- •Liberals often want to improve education and healthcare.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "liberal" like "open" (A1 word), but for ideas and beliefs—it means not closed or strict, but willing to accept new thoughts
- ✓Picture a wide-open door welcoming different people and ideas inside without judgment
- ✓It's the feeling when you listen carefully to others' opinions, even if they are different from yours
- ✓Sounds like "LIB-eral" → imagine a LIBRARY, a place full of many books and ideas, open for everyone to learn
- ✓Think of famous leaders or characters who want fairness and new ways to help people, like heroes who fight for freedom
- ✓NOT like "strict" or "conservative" (which hold old or fixed ideas), "liberal" means flexible and open to change
- ✓NOT like "radical" (which means very extreme change), "liberal" means moderate and thoughtful change
- ✓NOT like "closed" or "narrow-minded," but open and accepting
Try Other Words
- •Open-minded: willing to consider new ideas (Use when focusing on attitude toward ideas or opinions)
- •Progressive: supporting new and better social or political ideas (Use when emphasizing social or political change)
- •Tolerant: accepting different behaviors or beliefs (Use when focusing on acceptance of others)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: "liber-" means free (from Latin "liber" meaning free) + "-al" is an adjective suffix meaning "related to"
- •Etymology: From Latin "liberalis," meaning generous or free, originally about freedom and kindness
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to describe free people or generous behavior; later used in politics for ideas about freedom and equality
- •Modern usage: Describes political views and personal attitudes that support freedom, equality, and social change
Reflect & Connect
•How can being liberal help or challenge a community or society?
•In what situations might someone choose to be more liberal or more strict in their opinions?
Fill in the blanks
1.A liberal person usually ___ new ideas and different opinions easily.
2.When a government is liberal, it often ___ laws that support freedom and equality.
3.Unlike strict rules, liberal policies allow people more ___ in how they live and work.
4.She has a liberal attitude ___ art, meaning she accepts many styles and ideas.
5.Liberals often want to ___ social change to help more people.
6.Someone who is not liberal might be ___ to new or different ideas.
7.The teacher was liberal ___ giving homework, letting students decide how much to do.