noun

libertarian

lih-buh-TEH-uh-ree-uhn

noun

Someone who champions personal liberty and minimal government interference in people's lives and choices.

"As a libertarian, he opposed most government regulation of business."

adj

Favouring maximum individual freedom and limited government control.

"The party ran on a libertarian platform of lower taxes and fewer restrictions."

How to Use Libertarian

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone (or something) focused on maximizing personal freedom and minimizing government control.

Common mistake

Don't assume "libertarian" always means the same thing politically — it spans free-market conservatives and left-leaning anti-authoritarians depending on the country and era.

Common pairings

libertarian views a libertarian party libertarian philosophy

Word Forms

more libertarian comparative, libertarians plural, Libertarians plural, most libertarian superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “libertarian” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

As a _____, he opposed most government regulation of business.

Etymology

Built from liberty plus -arian ("a believer in"). First used in English in 1789 in a debate over free will, long before it took on its modern political meaning in the 20th century.

Rhymes for libertarian

Ian Xian tian sian Qian Lian Jian Asian avian Brian stian Fabian

See all rhymes for libertarian →