illiberalism

noun

il·​lib·​er·​al·​ism (ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-b(ə-)rə-ˌli-zəm 

plural illiberalisms

1

: opposition to or lack of liberalism and especially political liberalism (see liberalism sense 2)

Illiberalism is generally seen as a backlash against modern liberal and progressive ideas and policies, especially those meant to protect the rights and advance the aspirations of groups long pushed to the margins of American political life.

—Steven Hahn

2

: an instance of illiberal behavior

… a fierce opponent of Communist tyranny who has never thought that the sins of our enemies excused our own injustices and illiberalisms.

—Alan Ryan

Synonyms

• bigotry
• dogmatism
• illiberality
• illiberalness
• intolerance
• intolerantness
• narrow-mindedness
• opinionatedness
• partisanship
• sectarianism
• small-mindedness

Examples of illiberalism in a Sentence

They each accused the other of a form of illiberalism.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the United States, the presidential election is shaping up to be a contest between two candidates who have different versions of economic illiberalism. —Macy Scheck, National Review, 26 June 2024

India’s growing power also brings into sharper relief a fundamental conundrum for the West: How to square the strategic imperatives of partnership with an accelerating Indian illiberalism that fuels transnational repression—including some allegedly carried out on Western soil. —Michael Kugelman, TIME, 5 June 2024

Other is the kindling that fuels extremism and illiberalism. —Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024

The realistic alternative to engaging Modi’s India may be seeing South Asia fall further under the shadow of a China that assiduously exports illiberalism. —Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1