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The term '''libertarian''' commonly refers
to the ideas and adherents of '''[[libertarianism]]'''
(aka [[classical liberalism]]).

== Etymology of the word "libertarian" ==

The term "libertarian" originally means proponent of liberty,
and can still be used in this meaning, in the proper context.
It can be been opposed to [[authoritarian]] (in politics),
or to proponents of [[determinism]] (in philosophy), etc.

== "Libertarian" as "anarchist" ==

The term "libertarian" was also used by [[anarchist]]s
as synonymous for naming their movement,
so that they would clearly avoid the confusion with the derogatory uses
of [[anarchy]] as synonymous for [[anomie]].

Just like the word "[[Anarchism/etymology|anarchist]]",
the word "libertarian", at least in [[Europe]],
has long been synonymous with the socialist kind of anarchists,
which may be specified as [[libertarian socialism|libertarian socialists]].
⏎
On the other hand, in the [[United States]], it was rather understood as synonymous with [[individualist anarchist]].


== "Libertarian" as "classical liberal" ==

However, in the [[US]] since the 1950s,
the word [[libertarian]]
has been massively used by [[classical liberal]]s,
only a few of them being [[anarcho-capitalism|anarchists]].
These classical liberals sought to avoid confusion
with uses of the word [[liberal]] then widely associated
to various [[social-democratic]] and even [[socialist]]
parties and even ideologies.
Indeed, the [[libertarian socialism|left-anarchist]] tradition
was as not strong in the US,
so the word was not deeply tied to left-anarchism,
whereas there was a tradition of [[individualist anarchist]]s
and other non-socialists and non-anarchists
calling themselves "libertarians" in the US.
The word has spread to the US and then other countries,
through the founding of think tanks, parties, etc.

== A typographical convention ==
Some writers also follow the convention
to use "libertarian" (spelled in lowercase)
to mean a general advocate of [[libertarianism]],
while "Libertarian" (capitalized) refers specifically
to a member of a libertarian political party such as any of the following:
*[[United States Libertarian Party]]
*[[Partido Movimiento Libertario|Movimiento Libertario]] of [[Costa Rica]]

''See also'':
* [[libertarianism]] | [[classical liberalism]]
* [[liberalism]] | [[liberal]] | [[new liberalism]] | [[political liberalism]]
* [[anarchism]] | [[individualist anarchism]] | [[libertarian socialism]] | [[anarcho-capitalism]]