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
Massie sensed the lack of electoral pressure is adding to the willingness to cast the libertarians aside.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 10 June 2025
What was once the domain of libertarians and open-source developers has become a geopolitical flashpoint.
—Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
By contrast, many libertarians and budget hawks are underwhelmed by the lack of meaningful structural reforms, ever-diminishing estimates of DOGE’s savings and its focus on gloss over substance.
—Leonard Gilroy, Oc Register, 5 June 2025
This is why the oceans have long been a magnet for libertarians hoping to flee governments, taxes and other people by creating their own sovereign micronations in international waters.
—Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
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Emily Brooks, The Hill, 10 June 2025
What was once the domain of libertarians and open-source developers has become a geopolitical flashpoint.
—Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
By contrast, many libertarians and budget hawks are underwhelmed by the lack of meaningful structural reforms, ever-diminishing estimates of DOGE’s savings and its focus on gloss over substance.
—Leonard Gilroy, Oc Register, 5 June 2025
This is why the oceans have long been a magnet for libertarians hoping to flee governments, taxes and other people by creating their own sovereign micronations in international waters.
—Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 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 2 Jul. 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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