French Conversation · Level 110
59 words
French word
libéral
Pronunciation
IPA/libeʁal/
Meaning
- adjectivelenient
Example
Le professeur est libéral avec les délais.
The professor is lenient about deadlines.
More examples
Son esprit libéral facilite le dialogue.
His generous spirit facilitates dialogue.
Core concept
An open hand leaves room for another person's mistake, request, or late deadline.
Common phrases
esprit libéral
generous spirit
libéral avec l'argent
generous with money
Similar words
tolérant: Willing to accept differing opinions and ways of behaving.
indulgent: Not strict about demands or faults, and quick to make allowances.
clément: Compassionate in limiting the severity of punishment or judgment.
permissif: Giving people wide latitude by imposing little discipline or restraint.
Definition in French
Qui fait preuve de tolérance et d'indulgence envers les personnes ou les demandes, et qui accorde facilement des exceptions.
Word origin
French libéral comes from Latin liberalis, from liber, meaning free, and developed from describing a free person to describing generous or tolerant conduct.
Usage tips
- In political contexts, libéral usually refers to liberal ideas, while in this interpersonal use it describes leniency or generosity.
Other meanings
- liberaladjective
Opposites
- avarestingyadjective
Related words
- libéralitégenerositynoun
- libéraliserliberalizeverb