( also the Liberal Democrats , also infml the Lib Dems )
the third largest British political party. It was formed in 1988 when the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party joined together. In recent years it has been particularly successful in local government elections and in by-elections . It argues in favour of proportional representation and its leader is Charles Kennedy.
See also Conservative Party , Labour Party .
► Liberal Democrat ( also infml Lib Dem ) n
a member or supporter of the Liberal Democratic Party.