How to say "progressive" in Japanese

• 積極せっきょくCommon
  prenominal modifierCovers 'progressive' only in the sense of an active, positive, can-do attitude; the core meaning is 'active' or 'positive', so this is seldom the word you want for 'progressive' as in forward-looking ideas or politics.
• 進歩的しんぽてきCommon
  na-adjectiveThe direct equivalent: describes people, ideas, or policies that favor progress, reform, and new ideas rather than tradition, and it also serves for 'progressive' in the political sense.
  ホワイト氏しは進歩的しんぽてきな政治家せいじかだ。↗

  Mr. White is a liberal politician.
• 進取しんしゅCommon
  no-adjectiveMatches 'progressive' only via its 'enterprising, go-ahead' sense: it describes a pioneering spirit or disposition, and is a marginal choice when you simply want to say 'progressive'.
  その困難こんなんに打ち勝うちかつには進取しんしゅの精神せいしんが必要ひつようだ。↗

  We need a spirit of enterprise to overcome the difficulty.

Choose 進歩的 for the direct sense of 'progressive' — favoring progress, reform, or new ideas; 積極 and 進取 really mean active/positive and enterprising respectively, matching 'progressive' only in the sense of an energetic, forward-leaning attitude.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 積極せっきょくactive
• 進歩的しんぽてきprogressive
• 進取しんしゅenterprising
• プログレッシブprogressive
• プレグレッシブprogressive
• 進行性しんこうせいprogressive (worsening disease or condition)
• 累進的るいしんてきprogressive (tax, etc.)
• なし崩し的なしくずしてきgradual (destruction)
• 革新的かくしんてきliberal