illiberal

[ ih-lib-er-uhl, ih-lib-ruhl ]

adjective

1. narrowminded; bigoted.

   Synonyms: small-minded, hidebound, intolerant, biased

2. Archaic.
   1. not generous in giving; miserly; stingy.
   2. Chiefly Literary. without culture or refinement; unscholarly; vulgar.

illiberal

/ ɪˈlɪbərəl /

adjective

1. narrow-minded; prejudiced; bigoted; intolerant
2. not generous; mean
3. lacking in culture or refinement

Derived Forms

• ilˌliberˈality, noun
• ilˈliberally, adverb

Other Words From

• il·liber·ali·ty il·liber·al·ness il·liber·al·ism noun
• il·liber·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of illiberal¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin illīberālis “ignoble, mean”; il- ², liberal

Example Sentences

But Kickl has also aligned his party closely with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the self-styled champion of "illiberal democracy", and shared a more conciliatory tone when it comes to Russia.

From BBC

Is climate change now gathering sufficient destructive force to cripple Washington’s liberal world order and create an opening for Beijing’s decidedly illiberal one?

From Salon

Through the changing of election laws, skewed taxation and regulation and control of the media and messaging in schools in schools, Orban has built what he boasts is an "illiberal democracy," Szelényi said.

From Salon

Today, with illiberal authoritarians rising worldwide and drawing praise from American politicians and media figures, the threat to democracy is just as timely a subject.

From New York Times

“Parents’ rights” is an expression used to cover for an illiberal public culture.

From Salon