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.
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
But the governor cast the commutation as a defense of free speech, claiming that Peters had been punished “for having strange beliefs.”
From Slate • May 23, 2026
He has tapped into growing public anger over tens of thousands of migrants crossing the English Channel each year in small boats, wider immigration policies, alleged free speech curbs and other issues.
From Barron's • May 16, 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
User anonymity and free speech would become things of the past.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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.
