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liberalism
(redirected from Liberal (politics))

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
lib·er·al·ism  (lbr--lzm, lbr-)
n.
1. The state or quality of being liberal.
2.
a. A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority.
b. often Liberalism The tenets or policies of a Liberal party.
3. An economic theory in favor of laissez-faire, the free market, and the gold standard.
4. Liberalism
a. A 19th-century Protestant movement that favored free intellectual inquiry, stressed the ethical and humanitarian content of Christianity, and de-emphasized dogmatic theology.
b. A 19th-century Roman Catholic movement that favored political democracy and ecclesiastical reform but was theologically orthodox.

liber·al·ist n.
liber·al·istic (-lstk) adj.

liberalism [ˈlɪbərəˌlɪzəm ˈlɪbrə-]
n
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) liberal opinions, practices, or politics
2. (Christianity / Protestantism) a movement in modern Protestantism that rejects biblical authority
liberalist  n & adj
liberalistic  adj

liberalism
1. a political or social philosophy advocating the f reedom of the individual, parliamentary legislatures, governmental assurances of civil liberties and individual rights, and nonviolent modification of institutions to permit continued individual and social progress.
2. the principles and practice of a liberal political party. — liberalist, n., adj.liberalistic, adj.
See also: Politics
a movement in modern Protestantism that emphasizes freedom from tradition and authority, the adjustment of religious beliefs to scientific conceptions, and the spiritual and ethical content of Christianity. — liberalist, n., adj. — liberalistic, adj.
See also: Protestantism
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.liberalism - a political orientation that favors social progress by reform and by changing laws rather than by revolution
ideology, political orientation, political theory - an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation
neoliberalism - a political orientation originating in the 1960s; blends liberal political views with an emphasis on economic growth
2.liberalism - an economic theory advocating free competition and a self-regulating market
economic theory - (economics) a theory of commercial activities (such as the production and consumption of goods)

liberalism
noun progressivism, radicalism, humanitarianism, libertarianism, freethinking, latitudinarianism He was concerned over growing liberalism in the Church.
Quotations
"By liberalism I don't mean the creed of any party or any century. I mean a generosity of spirit, a tolerance of others, an attempt to comprehend otherness, a commitment to the rule of law, a high ideal of the worth and dignity of man, a repugnance for authoritarianism and a love of freedom" [Alan Paton Lecture at Yale University]
Translations
liberalism [ˈlɪbərəlɪzəm] Nliberalismo m
liberalism [ˈlɪbərəlɪzəm] n
(POLITICS)libéralisme m
(= tolerance) → libéralisme m
liberalism
nLiberalität f; Liberalism (Pol) → der Liberalismus
liberalism [ˈlɪbrəˌlɪzm] nliberalismo


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