liberal
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liberal
Supporting and promoting the personal freedom of the individual and civil liberties. The term is mainly used in political and social contexts.
Die Verfassung garantiert eine freiheitliche Grundordnung.
The constitution guarantees a liberal basic order.
The adjective 'freiheitlich' (liberal/freedom-oriented) is derived directly from the noun 'die Freiheit' (freedom). The ending '-lich' here means 'in the spirit of freedom' or 'related to freedom'.
Er hat eine sehr freiheitliche Einstellung zur Erziehung.
He has a very liberal attitude toward education.
'Freiheitlich' (liberal) is almost always used in political or social contexts. Common combinations are 'freiheitliche Demokratie' (liberal democracy), 'freiheitliche Grundordnung' (liberal basic order), or 'freiheitliche Werte' (liberal values).
Alle Parteien bekannten sich zur freiheitlichen demokratischen Grundordnung.
All parties committed themselves to the free democratic basic order.
This word describes a political or philosophical principle, not a personal characteristic. You would not say that a person is 'freiheitlich' (liberal) to express that they are unconventional or laid-back.
Die Diskussion drehte sich um eine freiheitliche Gesellschaftsordnung.
The discussion centered on a liberal social order.
democratic
'demokratisch' and 'freiheitlich' both often fit political or social values. They are close in meaning because a democracy is normally supposed to protect freedom and rights. But the focus is different: 'demokratisch' emphasizes elections, majorities, and participation in decision-making. 'freiheitlich' emphasizes personal freedom and the rights of the individual. Learners may confuse the words because they often appear together. As a simple guide: when it is about deciding and participating in decisions, 'demokratisch' fits better; when it is about personal freedom, 'freiheitlich' fits better.
Eine freiheitliche Gesellschaft schützt die Meinung jedes Einzelnen.
A liberal society protects each individual's opinion.
Die Klasse wählt demokratisch, wohin der Ausflug gehen soll.
The class votes democratically on where the field trip should go.