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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

human rights

The oldest evacuee was 94 years old, while the youngest was one, according to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

The group's co-founder Huda Ammori has legally challenged the ban, arguing it was "disproportionate" and infringed human rights.

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026

"Everyone who wishes to leave Oleshky will be given the opportunity to do so safely," Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Founded in 1993 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Novaya Gazeta was one of Russia's most reputable and renowned organisations reporting and documenting human rights abuses.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

Park told Shin that the United Nations had begun to criticize human rights violations inside the North’s political labor camps.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

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Related Words

• civil rights

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