English Explanatory Dictionary

liberalism

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The quality of being liberal.
  2. Any political movement founded on the autonomy and personal freedom of the individual, progress and reform, and government by law with the consent of the governed.
  3. An economic ideology in favour of laissez faire and the free market (related to economic liberalism).

Pronunciation

/ˈlɪ.b(ə.)ɹə.lɪz.əm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-liberalism.wav

Word forms

liberalism liberalisms

Etymology

Circa 1819, from French libéralisme circa 1818. Equivalent to liberal + -ism.

Related words

free market

Derived words

antiliberalism classical liberalism economic liberalism neoclassical liberalism neoliberalism palaeoliberalism paleoliberalism post-neoliberalism social liberalism ultraliberalism
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