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liberal
An open, tolerant, and unprejudiced attitude toward other people, opinions, and ways of life.
example
Sie hat eine sehr liberale Einstellung zur modernen Kunst.
She has a very liberal attitude toward modern art.
liberal
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Meanings
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Usage tips
False friend
In German, 'liberal' in politics usually refers to the emphasis on individual freedom and a free-market economy (often understood as centrist or business-friendly). It does not always correspond to the American use of 'liberal', which is often used as a synonym for 'left-wing' or 'social democratic'.
EXAMPLE
Eine liberale Wirtschaftspolitik fordert weniger staatliche Eingriffe.
A liberal economic policy calls for less government intervention.
Context clue
You can distinguish the meanings well from context. If it is about personal values, upbringing, or opinions, the meaning is 'open' or 'tolerant'. If it is about parties, the economy, or laws, the political meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Meine Eltern hatten immer eine sehr liberale Haltung zu meiner Berufswahl.
My parents always had a very liberal attitude toward my choice of career.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'tolerant' or 'open', 'liberal' is often combined with nouns like 'Einstellung' (attitude), 'Haltung' (stance/attitude), 'Ansicht' (view), or 'Erziehung' (upbringing). The phrase 'liberal denken' (to think liberally) is also very common.
EXAMPLE
Er wurde sehr liberal erzogen und durfte früh eigene Entscheidungen treffen.
He was raised in a very liberal way and was allowed to make his own decisions early on.
Register: less common use
The meaning 'großzügig' (generous) is rare today and often sounds somewhat old-fashioned or very formal. You mainly find it in older texts or in an elevated style.
EXAMPLE
Der Mäzen war für seine liberalen Zuwendungen an die Kunstszene bekannt.
The patron was known for his generous contributions to the art scene.
Compare with
liberal vs offen
open
'offen' and 'liberal' can both describe an attitude where someone accepts other opinions or ways of life. 'offen' is broader and more everyday: an open person listens, tries out new things, and is not very afraid of other ideas. 'liberal' sounds a little more formal and especially emphasizes tolerance and freedom. It can also be political, but in this relation the focus is on a personal attitude. Learners may confuse the words because both sound positive and tolerant. 'offen' fits many everyday situations, while 'liberal' is more likely to be used for attitudes, values, or social issues.
liberal
Im Gespräch wirkt sie sehr liberal und respektiert auch ganz andere Lebensweisen.
In conversation, she comes across as very liberal and also respects completely different ways of life.
offen
Meine Nachbarin ist offen für neue Ideen beim gemeinsamen Gartenprojekt.
My neighbor is open to new ideas for the shared garden project.
In real life
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