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

The MoD denies the claim that human rights have been breached by the government's actions.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

The U.N. never tires of talking about human rights.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

The report is the fruit of the Moscow Mechanism, a process triggered by the OSCE's 41 states on May 14 to allow independent experts to investigate grave human rights abuses in the conflict.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

Phillips received a knighthood in 2022 for his service to equality and human rights for the U.K.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

His story was vetted and scrutinized by former prisoners and guards from the camps, as well as by human rights lawyers, South Korean journalists, and other experts with extensive knowledge of the camps.

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

Related Words

• civil rights