human rights

American  

[hyoo-muhn rahyts, yoo‑] / ˈhyu mən ˈraɪts, ˈyu‑ /

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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Discover More

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

Both NGOs and the United Nations have criticised breaches of human rights in the country on his watch.

From Barron's

He successfully lobbied for laws in the U.S., the U.K. and European Union that provide financial sanctions against crooked foreign officials and human rights violators.

From Barron's

No date for the report’s release has been set, leaving human rights advocates fearing the issues will not get the attention and funding they deserve.

From Los Angeles Times

The human rights advocate said one of her clients was held in a police station with dozens of others, but reported seeing many people released hourly - many of them French nationals.

From BBC

We cannot verify their accounts, but they are similar to the hundreds of interviews done by human rights groups over the past two decades.

From BBC

Related Words

• civil rights