libertarian

American  

[lib-er-tair-ee-uhn] / ˌlɪb ərˈtɛər i ən /

noun

1. a follower of a political philosophy or party that advocates individual liberty achieved by limiting the power of a central government.

   Whether left- or right-leaning, libertarians generally oppose taxation and support free trade.

2. a person who advocates liberty, especially with regard to thought or conduct.

3. a person who maintains the doctrine of free will (distinguished from necessitarian).

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adjective

1. of or relating to a political philosophy or party that advocates individual liberty achieved by limiting the power of a central government.

   libertarian views;

   a libertarian economist.

2. advocating or conforming to the principles of liberty.

3. maintaining the doctrine of free will.

libertarian British  

/ ˌlɪbəˈtɛərɪən /

noun

1. a believer in freedom of thought, expression, etc

2. philosophy a believer in the doctrine of free will Compare determinism

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a libertarian

Other Word Forms

• antilibertarian adjective
• libertarianism noun

Etymology

Origin of libertarian

First recorded in 1780–90; libert(y) + -arian

Explanation

Someone who is a libertarian advocates the importance of the individual over government control — libertarians believe strongly in freedom. A libertarian holds onto the idea of a person's free will and individualism, with the word based on the Latin root liber, meaning “free.” In the U.S., libertarians can be to the left or the right of the political spectrum. A libertarian believes that someone should make his or her own decisions rather than rely on a political party line. If you think the government should keep its nose out of your business, then you might be a libertarian.

Example Sentences

“The high desert has a fascinating blend of hippie and libertarian sensibilities,” he wrote in an email.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

Big tech companies have had a complicated relationship with explicit content, trying to balance the libertarian ethos of Silicon Valley with the demands of advertising-supported businesses and the imperative of protecting minors online.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

His remarks came on Wednesday at an event hosted by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026

Among the leaders to attend the summit are Argentina's libertarian president Javier Milei, Ecuador's Daniel Noboa and El Salvador's Nayib Bukele -- whose security crackdown is seen as a model for many in the region.

From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026

Politically, they were conservative, closer to libertarian than liberal.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• autonomous
• constitutional
• egalitarian
• free
• orderly
• popular