freedom of speech

noun

1. the right of people to express their opinions publicly without governmental interference, subject to the laws against libel, incitement to violence or rebellion, etc.

freedom of speech

1. The right to speak without censorship or restraint by the government. Freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment (see also First Amendment) to the Constitution. (See clear and present danger.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of freedom of speech¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

This is a threat to every person’s freedom of speech, and to democracy itself.

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They said the university wished to "make clear our commitment to supporting her research and to securing and promoting freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law".

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The environmental activists from Just Stop Oil had admitted to taking part in the protest, but cited their right to freedoms of speech and protest.

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“The Supreme Court has made it crystal clear that only true threats are exempt from the freedom of speech — not hyperbole and political bombast.”

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A violent separatist insurgency in the English-speaking west has been running for almost a decade, unemployment stands at 40% for the under-35s, roads and hospitals are crumbling, and freedom of speech has been limited.

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