antiliberals
|an-ti-lib-er-als|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈlɪbərəlz/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tiˈlɪb(ə)rəlz/
(antiliberal)
against liberalism
Etymology
'antiliberal' originates from Modern English, formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'liberal' (from Latin 'liberalis'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'liberalis' related to 'liber' meaning 'free'.
'liberal' derives from Latin 'liberalis' (related to 'liber' meaning 'free'), passed into Old French as 'liberal' and into Middle English as 'liberal'; the prefix 'anti-' (Greek) was later attached in Modern English to form 'antiliberal'.
Originally 'liberal' meant 'of freedom' or 'generous'; over time it came to denote a political stance emphasizing individual liberties and reform, and 'antiliberal' came to mean 'opposed to that political stance'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'antiliberal': people who are opposed to liberalism or to liberal political ideas and policies.
Antiliberals often argue that unfettered markets and individualism harm social cohesion.
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Adjective 1
describing attitudes, policies, or actions that oppose liberalism or liberal principles.
Antiliberals criticized the reform as antiliberal and likely to restrict individual rights.
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Last updated: 2025/09/02 19:55