civil liberties

Cultural  

1. In general, the rights to freedom of thought, expression, and action, and the protection of these rights from government interference or restriction. Civil liberties are the hallmark of liberal, democratic “free” societies. In the United States, the Bill of Rights guarantees a variety of civil liberties, most notably freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech, expressed in the First Amendment (see also First Amendment). (See civil rights.)

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Example Sentences

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civil liberties

“There are some severe civil liberties infringements going on,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

Much of the concerns raised so far about the proposals have been about civil liberties and government overreach.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

Norman Siegel, one of the nation’s leading civil liberties attorneys, has led large-scale voting rights and voting registration efforts in the south and around the country.

From Salon ● Jun. 16, 2026

If that’s true, I have not heard him or a supporter address what would appear to be a treatment mismatch for the others, as well as a potential civil liberties breach for all of them.

From Slate ● Jun. 3, 2026

The country’s legal system would guarantee equality before the law, and a bill of rights would be drawn up to protect civil liberties.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• freedom
• freedom of religion
• freedom of speech
• human rights