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

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was "shocked" by the attack, adding: "Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms."

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

It had been enacted 23 years earlier and had never once been enforced, presumably because officials recognized that it would violate all sorts of First Amendment protections, perhaps most notably the freedom of the press.

From Slate • Mar. 26, 2026

In its decision, the court concluded "that the interruption of access to the TikTok platform constitutes a restriction of freedom of expression and freedom of the press".

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 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

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