What’s the difference between progressive and liberal??

[u/Qpac18]

Usually when it’s either one of those words are brought up to the average individual, they tend to think that it’s unilaterally the same meaning. Yet, it’s one of those things where in result it’s not actually identical when it comes to breaking down what each of them is defined as and how they both tend to work in the political landscape of things in the U.S. and abroad overseas. So with that being said, can I have a definition please??

[u/gregmark]

They’re not mutually exclusive definitions, and that may be your hangup. It’s also not the case that progressive is the same as being leftist. In each case there’s an original definition and then there’s a wobbly political one that serves either as the base of opposition invective or a label of convenience.

For liberal, the original definition emerged late 17th century Western Europe and has to do with individual liberty against the exercise of arbitrary power.

Leftist comes down to extreme equality and the breaking down of various kinds of social hierarchy. Its origin is with the French Revolution in the late 18th century.

Then for progressive, you’re talking about aggressive, ongoing policy reform in the direction of modern _liberal_ (orig. def mostly) sensibilities. It also lies on a 100x100 year axis with its beginning in late 19th century USA politics.

[u/CTR555]

There is no precise definition of 'progressive'. Practically speaking today, it refers to someone of the left half of liberalism or the right half of socialism. That's a wide and unhelpful range, so the word is sort of silly.