The Word ‘Liberal’ Has Lost Its Meaning. Here’s Why I’m Reclaiming It

A first edition Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith book's "The Wealth Of Nations" is displayed at the library of the Dutch House of Representatives in the Hague on May 31, 2018. Smith was a classical liberal, the forebearer of today's libertarians. Bart Maat/AFP/Getty Images

Commentary

To the modern ear, the word “liberal” is virtually synonymous with Democrat, progressive, or leftist. But this association is the result of a linguistic definitional change over decades and even centuries. The political spectrum has shifted dramatically, and as a result, the word “liberal” has just about lost its meaning entirely.