Liberal vs. Conservative — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on September 2, 2023
Liberals tend to advocate for progress and reform, while conservatives emphasize maintaining tradition and stability.
Difference Between Liberal and Conservative
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Liberals generally support ideas that aim at broadening individual freedoms and ensuring equality. They are often in favor of governmental intervention to achieve social justice and address societal issues. Conservatives, on the other hand, place a higher value on traditions, limited government intervention, and individual responsibility. They believe that society's structure and values should remain stable and consistent.
Liberals often emphasize the need for social changes and reforms to address societal inequities. This could mean advocating for rights of marginalized communities, pushing for environmental regulations, or supporting social welfare programs. Conservatives are typically more hesitant to make drastic changes. They might argue that too rapid or radical change can lead to unintended consequences and disrupt the societal order.
Liberals might argue for the importance of a strong centralized government in certain sectors to ensure that individual rights are protected and that the collective good is pursued. In contrast, conservatives often champion the belief that a smaller government is better, emphasizing individual freedoms and free market principles. They believe that individuals are best equipped to make decisions for themselves, without excessive governmental oversight.
Liberals frequently champion progressive tax systems and wealth redistribution as means to address economic disparities in society. They believe that the wealthy should pay a larger proportion of their income in taxes to fund public services and welfare programs. Conservatives, conversely, might support a flatter tax system, arguing that it incentivizes economic growth and that wealth redistribution can stifle individual initiative and enterprise.
Both liberals and conservatives hold views that are based on deeply-rooted philosophical beliefs about how society should function. While liberals lean more towards change and adaptation to evolving societal needs, conservatives prioritize stability, tradition, and personal responsibility.
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Comparison Chart
Approach to Change
Embraces progressive change and reform.
Values tradition and stability.
View on Government
Supports larger government intervention.
Prefers limited government.
Economic Philosophy
Favors wealth redistribution.
Believes in free-market principles.
Social Stance
Often champions rights of marginalized groups.
Might uphold traditional values.
Tax Philosophy
Advocates for a progressive tax system.
Supports a flatter tax system.
Compare with Definitions
Liberal
Open to new ideas and willing to discard traditional values
She has a liberal attitude towards relationships.
Conservative
Conforming to the standards and conventions of the middle class;
A bourgeois mentality
Liberal
Generous in giving
He was liberal with his donations to the local school.
Conservative
Unimaginatively conventional;
A colorful character in the buttoned-down, dull-gray world of business
Liberal
Pertaining to a political ideology that advocates for progress and reform
His liberal views were evident in his support for climate change initiatives.
Conservative
Avoiding excess;
A conservative estimate
Liberal
Broad-minded; not strict
The teacher had a liberal policy on late assignments.
Conservative
Averse to change and holding traditional values
His conservative upbringing influenced his perspectives on marriage.
Liberal
Relating to or denoting a broad range of academic studies
She decided to pursue a liberal arts degree.
Conservative
Traditional or restrained in style
A conservative dark suit.
Liberal
Generous in amount; ample
A liberal serving of potatoes.
Conservative
Favoring free enterprise, private ownership, and socially traditional ideas
Her conservative politics were clear in her opposition to the new tax proposal.
Liberal
Not literal;
A loose interpretation of what she had been told
A free translation of the poem
Conservative
Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
Liberal
Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.
Conservative
Moderate; cautious
A conservative estimate.
Liberal
One with liberal views, supporting individual liberty (see Wikipedia's article on Liberalism).
Conservative
Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism.
Liberal
A supporter of any of several liberal parties.
Conservative
A supporter of political conservatism.
Liberal
Favoring reform, open to new ideas, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; not bound by traditional thinking; broad-minded.
Conservative
One who, or that which, preserves from ruin, injury, innovation, or radical change; a preserver; a conserver.
The Holy Spirit is the great conservative of the new life.
Liberal
Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.
Conservative
Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism.
Liberal
Tending to give freely; generous
A liberal benefactor.
Conservative
Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement.
Liberal
Pertaining to those arts and sciences the study of which is considered to provide general knowledge, as opposed to vocational/occupational, technical or mechanical training.
He had a full education studying the liberal arts.
Conservative
One favoring traditional views and values.
Liberal
Ample, abundant; generous in quantity.
Add a liberal sprinkling of salt.
Conservative
Conservative Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political conservatism, especially in the United Kingdom or Canada.
Liberal
(obsolete) Unrestrained, licentious.
Conservative
Conservative A member or supporter of a Conservative political party.
Liberal
Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion; not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the constitution or administration of government; having tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished from monarchical or aristocratic, forms; as, liberal thinkers; liberal Christians; the Liberal party.
I confess I see nothing liberal in this " order of thoughts," as Hobbes elsewhere expresses it.
Conservative
A person who favors maintenance of the status quo.
Liberal
A person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets
Conservative
(politics) One who opposes changes to the traditional institutions of their country.
Liberal
Having political or social views favoring reform and progress
Conservative
A person who favors decentralization of political power and disfavors interventionist foreign policy.
Liberal
Tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition
Conservative
A fiscal conservative.
Liberal
Not strict or literal; loose or approximate
A liberal translation.
Conservative
A social conservative.
Liberal
Of, relating to, or based on the traditional arts and sciences of a college or university curriculum
A liberal education.
Conservative
Cautious, moderate.
The chef added a conservative amount of salt to the dish.
Liberal
(Archaic) Permissible or appropriate for a person of free birth; befitting a lady or gentleman.
Conservative
Tending to resist change or innovation.
The curriculum committee at this university is extremely conservative.
Liberal
(Obsolete) Morally unrestrained; licentious.
Conservative
Based on pessimistic assumptions.
At a conservative estimate, growth may even be negative next year.
Liberal
A person with liberal ideas or opinions.
Conservative
Supporting some combination of fiscal, political or social conservatism.
Liberal
Liberal A member of a Liberal political party.
Conservative
Relating to the Conservative Party.
Liberal
Generous; permitting liberty; willing to give unsparingly.
He was liberal with his compliments.
Conservative
Neither creating nor destroying a given quantity.
Liberal
Widely open to new ideas, willing to depart from established opinions or conventions; permissive.
Her parents had liberal ideas about child-rearing.
Conservative
Having power to preserve in a safe or entire state, or from loss, waste, or injury; preservative.
Liberal
(politics) Open to political or social changes and reforms associated with either classical or modern liberalism.
Conservative
(Judaism) Relating to Conservative Judaism.
Liberal
(US) Someone with progressive or left-wing views; one with a left-wing ideology.
Conservative
(clothing) Conventional, traditional, and moderate in style and appearance; not extreme, excessive, faddish, or intense.
Liberal
(UK) One who favors individual voting rights, human and civil rights, and laissez-faire markets also called "classical liberal"; compare libertarian.
Conservative
(medicine) Not including any operation or intervention (said of a treatment, see conservative treatment)
Liberal
Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or studies.
Conservative
One who desires to maintain existing institutions and customs; also, one who holds moderate opinions in politics; - opposed to revolutionary or radical.
Liberal
Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver.
Infinitely good, and of his goodAs liberal and free as infinite.
Conservative
A person who has conservative ideas or opinions
Liberal
Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the literal sense; free; as, a liberal translation of a classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.
Conservative
Resistant to change
Liberal
Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic.
Conservative
Opposed to liberal reforms
Liberal
Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious.
Conservative
Tending to conserve or preserve
A conservative approach to wildlife means not disturbing their natural habitats.
Liberal
One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the Liberal party, so called. Cf. Whig.
Conservative
Tending to conserve; preservative
The conservative use of natural resources.
Liberal
A person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties
Conservative
Having power to preserve in a safe of entire state, or from loss, waste, or injury; preservative.
Liberal
Showing or characterized by broad-mindedness;
A broad political stance
Generous and broad sympathies
A liberal newspaper
Tolerant of his opponent's opinions
Conservative
Tending or disposed to maintain existing institutions; opposed to change or innovation.
Liberal
Given or giving freely;
Was a big tipper
The bounteous goodness of God
Bountiful compliments
A freehanded host
A handsome allowance
Saturday's child is loving and giving
A liberal backer of the arts
A munificent gift
Her fond and openhanded grandfather
Conservative
Of or pertaining to a political party which favors the conservation of existing institutions and forms of government, as the Conservative party in England; - contradistinguished from Liberal and Radical.
We have always been conscientiously attached to what is called the Tory, and which might with more propriety be called the Conservative, party.
Liberal
Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient; abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as, a liberal gift; a liberal discharge of matter or of water.
His wealth doth warrant a liberal dower.
Conservative
A member of the Conservative party.
Conservative
Relating to the Conservative Party in politics
He voted for the Conservative candidate in the last election.
Common Curiosities
What does it mean when someone is labeled a liberal in politics?
In politics, a liberal typically supports policies advocating for progress, reform, and broader individual freedoms.
Is being liberal the same as being left-wing?
While many liberal views align with left-wing ideologies, the two aren't synonymous. "Liberal" often focuses on individual rights and freedoms, while "left-wing" can encompass a broader range of socioeconomic ideologies.
How do conservatives typically view societal change?
Conservatives generally value tradition and stability, often being cautious or resistant to rapid societal changes.
What is the conservative stance on economic growth?
Conservatives usually believe in free-market principles, arguing that limited government intervention fosters economic growth.
How do liberals view economic disparities?
Liberals often support policies like progressive taxation and wealth redistribution to address economic inequalities.
Why do liberals often support larger government roles?
Liberals believe that government intervention can help achieve social justice, protect individual rights, and address societal challenges.
Do conservatives always oppose change?
No, conservatives don't always oppose change. They often prefer changes that uphold traditional values and societal structures.
In what sectors might conservatives support governmental intervention?
While conservatives typically advocate for limited government, they might support intervention in areas like national defense or law enforcement.
Can someone have both liberal and conservative views?
Yes, individuals can have a mix of liberal and conservative views, often referred to as being "centrist" or "moderate."
Do the terms liberal and conservative have meanings outside of politics?
Yes, "liberal" can refer to being open-minded or generous, while "conservative" can mean being cautious or preserving something in its current state.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
