liberal
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “liberal” mean in English?
liberal — open to new ideas; favouring individual freedom and limited state intervention
liberal — open to new ideas; favouring individual freedom and limited state intervention (política liberal, enfoque liberal)
Example sentences
El enfoque liberal de la política económica prioriza la competencia y la desregulación frente a la intervención estatal directa.
The liberal approach to economic policy prioritises competition and deregulation over direct state intervention.
Los valores liberales de tolerancia e igualdad ante la ley están en el centro del constitucionalismo democrático moderno.
The liberal values of tolerance and equality before the law are at the heart of modern democratic constitutionalism.
How to use it
Liberal means 'liberal' — open to new ideas; favouring individual freedom and limited government intervention. In Spanish political discourse it typically aligns with economic liberalism (pro-market, limited state) rather than the US English sense (centre-left). Common collocations: partido liberal, economía liberal, valores liberales, pensamiento liberal.
Common mistake
Liberal in Spanish political contexts often means economically liberal (free-market), not socially progressive as in US English. Context is essential: a partido liberal in Spain typically advocates market economics, not leftist social policy.