Ideas, movements, and parties of a radical or progressive character, usually associated with socialism. Following the example of the representatives of the Third Estate at the time of the French Revolution (1789), members of legislative assemblies holding liberal, democratic, or egalitarian views have tended to sit on the left of their chambers. What counts as “Left” varies with time and place: classical Liberal views on economics, for instance, would count as “Right” nowadays, but were “Left” when first espoused in the late 18th century.