illiberal

American  

[ih-lib-er-uhl, ih-lib-ruhl] / ɪˈlɪb ər əl, ɪˈlɪb rəl /

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.

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illiberal British  

/ ɪˈlɪbərəl /

adjective

1. narrow-minded; prejudiced; bigoted; intolerant

2. not generous; mean

3. lacking in culture or refinement

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Other Word Forms

• illiberalism noun
• illiberality noun
• illiberally adverb
• illiberalness noun

Etymology

Origin of illiberal

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

Explanation

Someone who's illiberal is close-minded and intolerant. Your illiberal grandfather might constantly complain about "kids today with their long hair and tattoos." An illiberal person tends to have old-fashioned values and opinions and isn't usually interested in considering other perspectives. It's illiberal to dismiss unfamiliar religious beliefs — or the lack of any religious belief — as just plain wrong. The original, 1500s meaning of illiberal was "ungentlemanly," from the Latin word illiberalis, "ungenerous, mean, or unworthy of a freeman." The "narrow-minded" sense of the word is from the mid-1600s.

Example Sentences

Magyar, a former government insider turned critic, is offering voters a radical break from Orban's self-described "illiberal" system, vowing to crack down on corruption and improve public services.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

In countries facing illiberal or outright authoritarian governments, bar associations have often stood as credible, independent advocates for the rule of law.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2025

Courageous in his commitment to scientific truth, he espouses opinions that can strike us as elitist and illiberal today.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2024

"To not even be able to express opposition to the law whilst still complying with it seems to be very un-British, extremely illiberal and unnecessarily draconian," he said.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2023

To the disgrace of many illiberal persons of the present age, we have known some of our most able and praiseworthy physiologists charged with materialism.

From Curiosities of Medical Experience by Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)