Liberalism is a belief in gradual social progress by changing laws, rather than by revolution.
...a democrat who has decided that economic liberalism is the best way to securechange.
...the tradition of nineteenth-century liberalism.
2. uncountable noun
Liberalism is the belief that people should have a lot of political and individual freedom.
He was concerned over growing liberalism in the Church.
Synonyms: progressivism, radicalism, humanitarianism, libertarianism More Synonyms of liberalism
liberalism in British English
(ˈlɪbərəˌlɪzəm, ˈlɪbrə-)
noun
1.
liberal opinions, practices, or politics
2.
a movement in modern Protestantism that rejects biblical authority
Derived forms
liberalist (ˈliberalist)
noun, adjective
liberalistic (ˌliberalˈistic)
adjective
liberalism in American English
(ˈlɪbərəlˌɪzəm; ˈlɪbrəlˌɪzəm)
noun
the quality or state of being liberal
; specif.,
a.
a political philosophy advocating personal freedom for the individual, democratic forms of government, gradual reform in political and social institutions, etc.
b.
a movement in Protestantism advocating a broad interpretation of the Bible, freedom from rigid doctrine and authoritarianism, etc.
Examples of 'liberalism' in a sentence
liberalism
For many years it had been experimenting with some modest degree of economic liberalism.
Redwood, John The Global Marketplace (1993)
Economic liberalism has lifted scores of millions out of poverty.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The notion that there is no political space for liberalism is a strange one.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It tells them that in their group liberalism is the social norm.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In ideological terms the era of free trade was above all the era of classical liberalism.
Overbeek, Henk Global Capitalism and National Decline (1989)
But what might have been an ironic account of modern liberalism becomes something more cosy.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Beyond this pathos concerning the relation of political and theological liberalism, we encounter another paradox.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Unable to build a legacy of economic success he seems intent on being remembered for his social liberalism and interpretation of being fair.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The capital was gripped by the imperial government's jerky moves to a new political and economic liberalism.
Christy Campbell PHYLLOXERA: How Wine was Saved for the World (2004)
Universities are, crudely, factory farms for social liberalism.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This retrospective editing of something as well known as Oliver Twist makes all social liberalism appear ridiculous.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The social and economic liberalism of our own day has produced its own moral flaws, but the conservative conformity of the past sheltered a multitude of sins.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
This is an intellectual life rich in lessons for both custodians of the present day academy and, more broadly, for modern day liberalism.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Most of those who were connected with the cause of economic liberalism, within or outside the party, addressed the group at one time or another.
Cockett, Richard Thinking the Unthinkable (1994)
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 freedomAlan PatonLecture at Yale University
In other languages
liberalism
British English: liberalism NOUN
Liberalism is a belief in gradual social progress by changing laws, rather than by revolution.
He decided that economic liberalism was the best way to secure change.
American English: liberalism
Brazilian Portuguese: liberalismo
Chinese: 自由主义
European Spanish: liberalismo
French: libéralisme
German: Liberalismus
Italian: liberalismo
Japanese: 自由主義
Korean: 진보주의
European Portuguese: liberalismo
Latin American Spanish: liberalismo
(noun)
He was concerned over growing liberalism in the Church.
Synonyms
progressivism
radicalism
a curious mixture of radicalism and conservatism
humanitarianism
libertarianism
freethinking
latitudinarianism
Quotation
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]