freedom of the press

American  

noun

1. the right to publish newspapers, magazines, and other printed matter without governmental restriction and subject only to the laws of libel, obscenity, sedition, etc.

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freedom of the press Cultural  

1. The right to circulate opinions in print without censorship by the government. Americans enjoy freedom of the press under the First Amendment (see also First Amendment) to the Constitution.

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Example Sentences

"Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms," Starmer wrote on X on Sunday.

From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026

Sonja West: The First Amendment very explicitly says that among our other wonderful freedoms we have explicit protections for freedom of the press.

From Slate • Feb. 24, 2026

At issue are two different rights, each guaranteed by the First Amendment: freedom of the press and freedom of religion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

"Targeting journalists… undermines freedom of the press, one of our core democratic values," he added.

From BBC • May 12, 2025

And with that the lesson about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the freedom of the press was over.

From "The Landry News" by Andrew Clements