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.
In February, when Russia opened a case against him, Durov described it as a pretext to restrict Russians’ privacy and free speech.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
“The Fifth Amendment protection to due process, the First Amendment protection to free speech, they apply whether you’re a citizen or not,” Lee said.
From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026
“America isn’t easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad because it’s gonna put up a fight. It’s gonna say, ‘You want free speech?’
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
"A platform originally designed for free speech and expression now favours abuse and misinformation over meaningful debate," she wrote.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
Many of those who took the time to write accused the government of violating the suffragists’ right to free speech.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
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.
