free speech
noun
: speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
also
: the right to such speech
… speakers were allowed to exercise their constitutional right of free speech … —
Harold Ickes
Harold Ickes Examples of free speech in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Kelly’s military retiree status was important The Pentagon’s defense centered around the notion that its actions didn’t violate Kelly’s free speech rights because his speech wasn’t protected.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Slowly, students, unions and opposition activists are taking advantage of this moment to express their views, probing the limits of free speech after years of repression and the constant threat of detention.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Citizens executed in the street for exercising their right to free speech?
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Perpetually offended, safe spaces, censoring free speech, culture of victimhood.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 10 Feb. 2026
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Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Slowly, students, unions and opposition activists are taking advantage of this moment to express their views, probing the limits of free speech after years of repression and the constant threat of detention.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Citizens executed in the street for exercising their right to free speech?
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Perpetually offended, safe spaces, censoring free speech, culture of victimhood.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for free speech
Cite this Entry
“Free speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20speech. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
free speech
noun1
: speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
setting off an alarm bell is not free speech—A. M. Dershowitz
A. M. Dershowitz2
: freedom of speech
an unconstitutional restraint on free speech—National Law Journal
National Law JournalLove words? Need even more definitions?
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