free speech
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of free speech
An Americanism dating back to 1840–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On May 18, he rescinded the gag rule External link, promising the SEC would stop using its “institutional power” to restrict free speech.
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
Earlier in his career, in 2015, he was among the celebrities caught up in the fallout from a controversial comedy roast that sparked police complaints and a wider debate about obscenity and free speech.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
Some free speech experts felt Disney had a chance to win that case, based on erroneous statements made by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
He promised in his inaugural address to “immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.”
From Salon • May 5, 2026
Mass action was perilous in South Africa, where it was a criminal offense for an African to strike, and where the rights of free speech and movement were unmercifully curtailed.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
