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
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The Court has since expanded this conception of anti-government free speech norms to apply to online companies.
—Olivier Sylvain, Fortune, 16 May 2026
The annual event, hosted by nonprofit PEN America, opened up the American Museum of Natural History after hours on May 14 for an important mission — to honor authors, booksellers and other literary advocates for their commitment to literature and free speech.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
And if that’s your impulse, too, stop talking about your commitment to free speech.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Earlier this year, a woman’s negative Facebook comments about Meiner led to police officers showing up at her home — an incident that went viral and sparked a wave of backlash from free speech groups.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
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Olivier Sylvain, Fortune, 16 May 2026
The annual event, hosted by nonprofit PEN America, opened up the American Museum of Natural History after hours on May 14 for an important mission — to honor authors, booksellers and other literary advocates for their commitment to literature and free speech.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
And if that’s your impulse, too, stop talking about your commitment to free speech.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Earlier this year, a woman’s negative Facebook comments about Meiner led to police officers showing up at her home — an incident that went viral and sparked a wave of backlash from free speech groups.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 13 May 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 21 May. 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
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