liberal vs. generous

Status
Not open for further replies.

thedaffodils

Key Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2008
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Hello,

Would you tell me what the difference between "liberal" and "generous"?

i.e. a liberal / generous donor

Thank you!
 

canadian45

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
Hello,

Would you tell me what the difference between "liberal" and "generous" is?

i.e. a liberal / generous donor I would only use "generous" in that example. Look up the two words in your dictionary.

Thank you!
..
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
The problem with using 'liberal" in your example is it can be confused with politics.
 

thedaffodils

Key Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2008
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
To: Canadian45

My dictionary uses generous to define liberal.

Entry 5 for liberal.
Tending to give freely; generous:

a liberal benefactor.
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Please name the dictionary you are quoting from.

I agree with Mike for the reason he gave. The words 'entry 5' are significant.

I have not looked at all the dictionaries listed here, but the first few at least put the political meaning first, so anybody looking up 'a liberal donor' could get the impression that the donor was supporting the defined political cause.

Generous means liberal far more often than liberal means generous.
 
Last edited:

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
There is a big difference between dictionary definitions and common usage. Usage changes over time. For example, "gay" is hardly ever used for "happy" anymore.
 

thedaffodils

Key Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2008
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
The American Heritage dictionary for Learners of English

This is the dictionary I used.
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I understand. But you should be more concerned with being understood than what a dictionary says.
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Not in this century.
 

Matthew Wai

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2013
Member Type
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Do you mean modern people won't understand what it means?
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
It is just an unusual word these days.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top