civil liberty
noun
plural civil liberties
: freedom from arbitrary interference in one's speech or actions by other individuals or by the government especially as constitutionally guaranteed (as by the U.S. Bill of Rights)
—usually plural
Examples of civil liberties include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, the right to privacy, and the right to due process of law.—
Ramon Martin
compare civil rights
Ramon Martin
civil libertarian
noun
plural civil libertarians
Civil libertarians contend that the heightened scrutiny has discouraged illegal immigrants from seeking marriage, … a fundamental right protected under the Constitution.
—Randy Kennedy
Randy Kennedy
civil libertarian
adjective
… continued divisions within the GOP on civil libertarian issues.
—Ian Duncan and Lisa Mascaro
Ian Duncan and Lisa Mascaro
Examples of civil liberty in a Sentence
Freedom of speech is a civil liberty.
Recent Examples on the Web
At the same time, concerns around protecting First Amendment rights will continue to be a heated part of the national dialogue, as civil liberties organizations respond to the administration's policy shifts.
—Shane Croucher
amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
However, an American civil liberties group vehemently denied Bondi’s claims.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Sep. 2025
Regardless of their intent, these government measures sparked immediate civil liberties concerns.
—Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
The index takes into account such factors as electoral processes, government functioning, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.
—Sofía Benavides, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil liberty
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Shane Croucher
amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
However, an American civil liberties group vehemently denied Bondi’s claims.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Sep. 2025
Regardless of their intent, these government measures sparked immediate civil liberties concerns.
—Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
The index takes into account such factors as electoral processes, government functioning, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.
—Sofía Benavides, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil liberty
Cite this Entry
“Civil liberty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20liberty. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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