civil liberty

American  

noun

1. the freedom of a citizen to exercise customary rights, as of speech or assembly, without unwarranted or arbitrary interference by the government.

2. such a right as guaranteed by the laws of a country, as in the U.S. by the Bill of Rights.

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civil liberty British  

noun

1. the right of an individual to certain freedoms of speech and action

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Etymology

Origin of civil liberty

First recorded in 1635–45

Example Sentences

And, an overlapping circle of liberals and intellectuals who wanted to restore the 1906 constitution with free elections and civil liberties.

From The Wall Street Journal

For critics, however, the episode underscored deeper tensions between consumer convenience and civil liberties: when smart home tools are designed for safety, they can also create powerful new pathways for surveillance.

From Salon

For advocates and civil liberties groups, the decision to drop charges and open a probe underscores persistent concerns about accountability and the narrative control of law enforcement agencies.

From Salon

HRC President Kelley Robinson said, “This moment should serve as a wake-up call to every American who cares about civil liberties: when journalists can be detained for covering protests, none of us are safe.”

From Salon

Human rights and privacy campaigners have raised concerns, describing the announcement as "one of the most significant threats to civil liberties in the history of British policing".

From BBC

Related Words

• civil rights
• freedom
• freedom of religion
• freedom of speech