Liao can mean:
- Liao Dynasty (915–1125), a former dynasty in northern China founded by the Khitan people
- Northern Liao (1122–1123), state founded by the Khitans in northern China
- Western Liao (1124–1218), or Kara-Khitan Khanate, Khitan empire in Central Asia
- Liaoning, abbreviated as Liao, province of China
- Liao (surname) (廖), a Chinese family name
- Liao River, river in northeast China
- House Liao of the Capellan Confederation in the fictional BattleTech universe
- liao, a grammatical particle in Singlish
- King Liao of Wu, king of Wu state in Spring and Autumn Period