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

The other stockholder proposal focused on human rights, filed by the Presbyterian Church of the U.S., received support from just over 8% of votes.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

"The investigation, prosecution, and trial of Bilal Mohammed and Yusufu Mieraili have been rife with human rights violations and have exposed some of the systemic deficiencies of Thailand's criminal justice system."

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

For young men like Bakary Jaiju, already prepared to risk everything, it is little deterrent; for human rights groups it brings new fears for asylum seekers and their struggle to be heard.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

She is the daughter of the late president Alberto Fujimori, who had been jailed for human rights violations.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

But he had decided what he wanted to do with the rest of his life: he would be a human rights activist and raise international awareness about the existence of the labor 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