non-liberal
|non-lib-er-al|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnˈlɪbərəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnˈlɪb(ə)rəl/
not liberal; opposed to liberalism
Etymology
'non-liberal' is a compound formed in English from the negative prefix 'non-' and the adjective 'liberal'. 'non-' comes from Latin 'non' meaning 'not' and was adopted into English as a standard negative prefix; 'liberal' originates from Latin 'liberalis' meaning 'relating to freedom or generosity', from 'liber' meaning 'free'.
'liberal' passed into English via Old French (Middle English 'liberal') from Latin 'liberalis'. The prefix 'non-' has been used in English to create negations since the Middle English period, forming compounds like 'non-existent' and 'nonplussed'; 'non-liberal' is a modern concatenation following that pattern.
The compound originally and straightforwardly meant 'not liberal' (a negative formation). Over time its use has specialized in political and ideological contexts to denote opposition to liberal policies or values.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is not liberal; someone who holds views or policies that are opposed to or outside the liberal spectrum.
Many non-liberals in the district voted for the conservative candidate.
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Adjective 1
not liberal; not showing or characterized by liberal views, especially in politics — often conservative, restrictive, or opposed to policies considered liberal.
The senator adopted a non-liberal position on immigration reform.
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Last updated: 2025/11/02 14:17