LIBERALISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does liberalism mean? 

• LIBERALISM (noun)
  The noun LIBERALISM has 2 senses:

1. a political orientation that favors social progress by reform and by changing laws rather than by revolution

2. an economic theory advocating free competition and a self-regulating market

  Familiarity information: LIBERALISM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LIBERALISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A political orientation that favors social progress by reform and by changing laws rather than by revolution

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("liberalism" is a kind of...):

ideology; political orientation; political theory (an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "liberalism"):

neoliberalism (a political orientation originating in the 1960s; blends liberal political views with an emphasis on economic growth)

Derivation:

liberalistic (having or demonstrating belief in the essential goodness of man and the autonomy of the individual; favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An economic theory advocating free competition and a self-regulating market

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("liberalism" is a kind of...):

economic theory ((economics) a theory of commercial activities (such as the production and consumption of goods))

Derivation:

liberalistic (having or demonstrating belief in the essential goodness of man and the autonomy of the individual; favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority)