libertarian

[ lib-er-tair-ee-uhn ]
See synonyms for libertarian on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a follower of a political philosophy or party that advocates individual liberty achieved by limiting the power of a central government: Whether left- or right-leaning, libertarians generally oppose taxation and support free trade.

  2. a person who advocates liberty, especially with regard to thought or conduct.

  1. a person who maintains the doctrine of free will (distinguished from necessitarian).

adjective
  1. of or relating to a political philosophy or party that advocates individual liberty achieved by limiting the power of a central government: libertarian views;a libertarian economist.

  2. advocating or conforming to the principles of liberty.

  1. maintaining the doctrine of free will.

Origin of libertarian

1
First recorded in 1780–90; libert(y) + -arian

Other words from libertarian

  • lib·er·tar·i·an·ism, noun
  • an·ti·lib·er·tar·i·an, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use libertarian in a sentence

  • Many prominent libertarians contributed essays of a philosophical or hortatory nature.

    Emma Goldman | Charles A. Madison
  • By one vote the libertarians were defeated, and the dalliance of the hospital staff in leisure hours received a severe check.

    The Pretty Lady | Arnold E. Bennett
  • The Libertarians assert that our wills are free—we having power of choice in all our actions.

  • And this is a most important distinction, which libertarians have hitherto failed to notice.

    Mind and Motion and Monism | George John Romanes
  • Suffice it in general to say that the honey the libertarians hived was appropriated in the end by the party of authority.

British Dictionary definitions for libertarian

libertarian

/ (ˌlɪbəˈtɛərɪən) /


noun
  1. a believer in freedom of thought, expression, etc

  2. philosophy a believer in the doctrine of free will: Compare determinism

adjective
  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a libertarian

Origin of libertarian

1
C18: from liberty

Derived forms of libertarian

  • libertarianism, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012