human rights

American  

[hyoo-muhn rahyts, yoo-] / ˈhju mən ˈraɪts, ˈju- /

plural noun

1. fundamental rights, especially those believed to belong to an individual and in whose exercise a government may not interfere, as the rights to speak, associate, work, etc.

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human rights British  

plural noun

1. the rights of individuals to liberty, justice, etc

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human rights Cultural  

1. Freedom from arbitrary interference or restriction by governments. The term encompasses largely the same rights called civil liberties or civil rights but often suggests rights that have not been recognized.

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Political leaders in the United States often use the expression when speaking of rights violated by other nations.

Etymology

Origin of human rights

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

human rights

In response, he underlines his past human rights work in conflict zones such as Rwanda.

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026

Pillay, a former United Nations high commissioner for human rights, received the prize Friday for her decades of work advancing international law and accountability for atrocities.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026

BBC correspondent Joe Inwood explains how Pillay's childhood in South Africa led her to become a driving force in international law and human rights, from Rwanda to Gaza.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

Dana Cleaveley, a research consultant formerly with SeaChoice, a Canadian sustainable-seafood group, said that many industries have already had to begin reckoning with the human rights and environmental abuses buried in their supply chains.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

I talked to my various human rights and refugee groups about ways I could get more involved in the future.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Related Words

• civil rights