Definition and pronunciation
broad-minded /ˌbrɔːdˈmaɪndɪd/ — adjective: tolerant, open to different ideas, lifestyles, or behaviors; willing to accept things that may be unusual, unconventional, or socially controversial.
Easy explanation
If someone is broad-minded, it means they don’t judge people harshly for being different. They are accepting of diverse opinions, cultures, or sexualities. It’s like “open-minded,” but with stronger emphasis on tolerance of unconventional or taboo things.
Grammatical formation
- Adjective: broad-minded.
- Comparative: more broad-minded.
- Superlative: most broad-minded.
- Noun: broad-mindedness.
Meanings and nuances
- Tolerance — open to different beliefs, religions, or customs.
- Acceptance — nonjudgmental about alternative lifestyles or choices.
- Progressive attitude — often linked to liberal or modern social views.
- Sexual openness — sometimes implies being tolerant of non-traditional sexuality, nudity, or sexual practices.
With prepositions and variants
- broad-minded about: “She is broad-minded about relationships.”
- broad-minded toward: “He is broad-minded toward cultural differences.”
Common collocations
broad-minded person, broad-minded view, broad-minded attitude, broad-minded society, broad-minded approach, broad-minded tolerance
Idioms and neighboring expressions
- “to each their own” — respecting others’ choices
- “live and let live” — letting people live how they want
- “open to everything” — very accepting
Word comparisons
- broad-minded vs open-minded: both tolerant, but broad-minded is slightly stronger, often tied to social taboos (e.g., sexuality).
- broad-minded vs tolerant: tolerant = passive acceptance; broad-minded = active willingness to embrace.
- broad-minded vs liberal: liberal = political/social ideology; broad-minded = personal quality.
- broad-minded vs permissive: permissive can mean “too lenient”; broad-minded = tolerant but not careless.
Real-life examples
- “He is broad-minded and respects cultural diversity.”
- “The society became more broad-minded about divorce.”
- “Her broad-minded attitude helped her fit in abroad.”
- “They are broad-minded parents who accept their children’s choices.”
- “Broad-minded leaders encourage inclusivity.”
Sample sentences
- “She is broad-minded about cultural differences.”
- “The teacher encouraged a broad-minded discussion.”
- “A broad-minded society embraces diversity.”
- “He is broad-minded when it comes to religion.”
- “They praised her broad-minded views on sexuality.”
- “Broad-mindedness helps reduce prejudice.”
- “He is not broad-minded about political issues.”
- “The city is known for its broad-minded atmosphere.”
- “They wanted a broad-minded approach to education.”
- “Broad-minded attitudes often challenge old taboos.”
Synonyms
open-minded, tolerant, liberal, inclusive, progressive, accepting, unprejudiced, unbiased, nonjudgmental
Antonyms
narrow-minded, close-minded, intolerant, conservative (rigid sense), prejudiced, bigoted, judgmental
Related terms
tolerance, inclusivity, diversity, open-minded, acceptance, liberal, permissive
Connection to sexuality
Yes. Broad-minded is often used in sexual contexts, describing someone who is tolerant of sexual freedom, non-traditional relationships, or behaviors considered taboo in conservative societies. For example, “broad-minded about nudity” or “broad-minded views on same-sex marriage.”
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