liberal arts
plural noun
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Why do we call the liberal arts "liberal"?
The liberal in liberal arts is not political. Its roots can be traced to the Latin word liber, meaning “free, unrestricted.” Our language took the term from the Latin liberales artes, which described the education given to members of the upper classes as well as to those with the full rights of a citizen; this education involved training in such subjects as grammar, logic, geometry, etc., as opposed to the education reserved for the lower classes, which involved mechanical or occupational skills. The phrase liberal arts has been part of our language for a very long time, with use dating back to the 14th century.
Examples of liberal arts in a Sentence
Moira Gleason, National Review, 24 July 2025
This is traditionally done through a liberal arts education, where students can study the various virtue traditions throughout history, learn from virtuous role models and mentors, and are expected to practice the virtues.
—Andrew Abela, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Back when my dedication to excelling as a liberal arts major paired with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic landed me in a hyper-intellectual, hyper-introspective chapter of my life.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 17 July 2025
One view of college is of an on-campus experience steeped in the liberal arts that holistically prepares students to live in a functioning democracy.
—Kelly Ritter, The Conversation, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for liberal arts
Cite this Entry
“Liberal arts.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberal%20arts. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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