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

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

Pillay, 85, has taken part in high-profile work considering allegations of human rights violations during a decades-long career, including in Rwanda, Myanmar and 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

She has written on and practiced in international criminal law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and more particularly on crimes of sexual violence in conflicts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

She wasn’t growing up expecting things like basic human rights, a real home, or a future.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Related Words

• civil rights