liberalism

Circa 1819, from French libéralisme circa 1818.

liberalism (countable and uncountable, plural liberalisms)

1. The quality of being liberal.
2. (politics) Any political movement founded on the autonomy and personal freedom of the individual, progress and reform, and government by law with the consent of the governed.
   • 2009 January 25, Timothy Garton Ash, “A Liberal Translation”, in New York Times‎:

     Whether some distant cousin really belongs to the extended family of liberalisms is a matter of healthy dispute.

3. (economics) An economic ideology in favour of laissez faire and the free market (related to economic liberalism).

• economic liberalism

• free market

liberalism c

1. liberalism; quality of being liberal; political movement based on personal freedom

• liberal