libertarian
noun
lib·er·tar·i·an
ˌli-bər-ˈter-ē-ən 
-ˈte-rē-
plural libertarians
1
: an adherent or advocate of libertarianism
Libertarians take individual freedom as the paramount political value and understand coercion to be the antithesis of that freedom. While people can justifiably be forced to do certain things—most obviously, to refrain from infringing the liberty of others—they cannot be coerced to serve the good of other members of society, nor even their own personal good.—
Bas van der Vossen and Billy Christmas
Bas van der Vossen and Billy Christmas… the one big thing the libertarians knew and could explain better than anyone else—that the invisible hand of the market is a more reliable organizer of the economic life of nations than the visible hand of the state …—Richard Cornuelle
Richard Cornuelle2
Libertarian plural Libertarians
: a member or supporter of a political party supporting or promoting libertarianism
a registered Libertarian
libertarian
adjective
or less commonly Libertarian
… the libertarian ideology and rhetoric associated with "school choice," opposition to gun control, and the right of business to be free from government regulation.
—Alan Wolfe
Alan Wolfe
the Libertarian party
Examples of libertarian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some libertarians are among his biggest cheerleaders, others are appalled and the rest of us are calling balls and strikes.
—Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 21 Feb. 2025
After his conviction, Ulbricht became a cause célèbre among cryptocurrency enthusiasts, as well as libertarians, who shared his ideals.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025
The controversial policy, floated last month, has attracted pushback from civil libertarians, health advocates and others.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
Yes! Manners’ line is the best rebuke yet from a libertarian of libertarians prone to straddling the immigration question.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for libertarian
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Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 21 Feb. 2025
After his conviction, Ulbricht became a cause célèbre among cryptocurrency enthusiasts, as well as libertarians, who shared his ideals.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025
The controversial policy, floated last month, has attracted pushback from civil libertarians, health advocates and others.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
Yes! Manners’ line is the best rebuke yet from a libertarian of libertarians prone to straddling the immigration question.
—John Tamny, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for libertarian
Cite this Entry
“Libertarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/libertarian. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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libertarian
noun
lib·er·tar·i·an
ˌlib-ər-ˈter-ē-ən
: a person who believes in liberty of thought and action
libertarian
adjective
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