liberal arts

NOUN

general knowledge studies

Synonyms

STRONGEST

mathematics

WEAK

general education history language liberal studies literature philosophy science trivium and quadrivium

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He advised students in liberal arts to major in law, accounting, or Chinese literature, reasoning that these fields most commonly led to recruitment after civil service exams.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

“Vladimir” began shooting in July 2025 in Toronto, which stood in for an undefined liberal arts college town.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

The goal is to push back on what proponents see as an academic culture that has lost sight of the purpose of a liberal arts education—and to do so from within the university.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

I am going to have to pick on liberal arts majors.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

This was during my second semester at UC Berkeley, where I had enrolled as a liberal arts major and later changed to fine arts.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan