You searched for: “liberty
liberal, libertarian, libertine, liberty
liberal (LIB uhr uhl, LIB ruhl) (adjective)
1. Generous and openhanded: William's father was liberal in his allowance each week.
2. Not exact or precise: The translation of the lecture notes was not liberal but it was meaningful anyway.
3. Broad minded, not traditional: Elisa's upbringing was very liberal.
4. When capitalized, it describes a member of a certain political party in the United Kingdom and in Canada: The Liberal candidate won the election by a wide margin.
libertarian (lib" uhr TAIR ee uhn) (noun)
A supporter of the principles of free will including unrestricted freedoms in thought, deeds, etc.: The actions of a libertarian must be balanced against the protocols and expectations of society.
libertine (LIB uhr teen") (noun)
1. A free thinker in matters of religious thought, a reference that is often used in a disparaging manner: As a devout libertine, Lenora's uncle gained a reputation for being irreverent.
2. An individual who is disdainful of convention and morality: Dale acted as a libertine, exploring the bars and places of poor reputation.
liberty (LIB uhr tee) (noun)
1. Freedom from physical or arbitrary control: Lucinda treasures her liberty, especially after she read the headlines in the newspapers.
2. Opportunity or choice: Karin has the liberty to decide between two careers.
3. Risk, moving away from typical practice: By smoking and heavy drinking, Mark was taking severe liberty with his health.
4. A short, authorized leave, usually in the context of military organizations: Leonard asked for and was granted a 48-hour liberty to visit his family.

The captain of the ship was liberal when he granted shore liberty to the crew; however, he cautioned each one not to act as a libertine even though the captain himself was considered a libertarian.

liberty (s), liberties (pl)
1. The freedom to think or to act without being constrained by necessity or force; including the condition of being free from restrictions or controls.
2. Freedom from captivity or slavery; or the condition of being physically and legally free from confinement, servitude, or forced labor.
3. A political, social, and economic right that belongs to the citizens of a state or to all people; often used in the plural; such as, the right and power to act, to believe, or to express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing.
4. A right or immunity to engage in certain actions without control or interference: the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights in the United States. 5. An action or remark that violates the polite distance usually left between people and which may strike the person at whom it is directed as insultingly too familiar; such as, a breach or overstepping of propriety or social convention.
6. In the U.S. navy, a short authorized leave from naval duties during which a sailor is authorized to go ashore.
7. An unwarranted risk or a risky chance: "He took foolish liberties on the ski slopes and ended up breaking both of his legs and left arm."
This entry is located in the following unit: liber- (page 2)
Word Entries containing the term: “liberty
civil liberty (s) (noun), civil liberties (pl)
The rights of people to do or to say things that are not illegal without being stopped or interrupted by their government: Freedom of speech is considered a civil liberty for people in the United States and in some other nations; but not in every country.

Civil liberties also involve individual rights that are protected by law from unjust governmental or other kinds of interference.

This entry is located in the following unit: civi-, civ-, cit- (page 1)