Definition

1. Noun:
   • A political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality: Liberalism emphasizes individual rights, democracy, and the protection of civil liberties.
   • An economic theory: Liberalism advocates for free markets, free trade, limited government intervention in the economy, and the protection of private property.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Classical liberalism stresses the importance of individual freedom and minimal state interference.
  • Modern social liberalism often supports government programs to promote social justice and equality of opportunity.

Advanced Usage

• "Champion of liberalism": A person who actively supports and promotes liberal ideas.
  • The philosopher was considered a champion of liberalism in the 19th century.
• "The tenets of liberalism": The core principles or doctrines of liberal thought.
  • The debate centered on the fundamental tenets of liberalism.

Variants and Related Words

• Liberal (adj/noun): Favorable to or in accord with concepts of individual liberty; a person who holds liberal views.
  • She has a liberal attitude towards social change.
• Neoliberalism (noun): A modern politico-economic theory favoring free trade, privatization, and reduced government spending.
  • Neoliberalism has influenced global economic policies since the late 20th century.

Synonyms

• Progressivism: Support for or advocacy of social reform.
• Reformism: The belief in changing a political or social system gradually through reform rather than revolution.

Related Phrases

• "Economic liberalism": Specifically refers to the belief in free-market capitalism.
  • Economic liberalism was a driving force behind the policy of deregulation.
• "Social liberalism": A version of liberalism that endorses a regulated market economy and the expansion of civil and political rights, often including support for social justice.
  • Social liberalism advocates for universal healthcare as a right.

Related Idioms

• "A liberal dose of": (Figurative) A large or generous amount of something.
  • The critic applied a liberal dose of skepticism to the new policy proposal. (This idiom uses the adjective form 'liberal' in a general sense, not the specific political doctrine of 'liberalism').

Noun

1. an economic theory advocating free competition and a self-regulating market
2. a political orientation that favors social progress by reform and by changing laws rather than by revolution