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libertarian - 5 dictionary results

lib⋅er⋅tar⋅i⋅an

  [lib-er-tair-ee-uhn]
Use libertarian in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person who advocates liberty, esp. with regard to thought or conduct.
2. a person who maintains the doctrine of free will (distinguished from necessitarian ).
–adjective
3. advocating liberty or conforming to principles of liberty.
4. maintaining the doctrine of free will.
Origin:
1780–90; libert(y) + -arian

Related forms:
lib⋅er⋅tar⋅i⋅an⋅ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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lib·er·tar·i·an   (lĭb'ər-târ'ē-ən)   
n.  
  1. One who advocates maximizing individual rights and minimizing the role of the state.
  2. One who believes in free will.

[From liberty.]
lib'er·tar'i·an adj., lib'er·tar'i·an·ism n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Libertarian

Lib`er*ta"ri*an\ (-t[=a]"r[i^]*an), a. [See Liberty.] Pertaining to liberty, or to the doctrine of free will, as opposed to the doctrine of necessity.

Libertarian

Lib`er*ta"ri*an\, n. One who holds to the doctrine of free will.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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libertarian 
1789, "one who holds the doctrine of free will" (opposed to necessitarian), from liberty (q.v.) on model of unitarian, etc. Political sense of "person advocating liberty in thought and conduct" is from 1878. U.S. Libertarian Party founded in Colorado, 1971.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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