free speech
noun
: speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
also
: the right to such speech
an unconstitutional restraint on free speech —
Nat'l Law Jour.
Nat'l Law Jour. Examples of free speech in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Chemerinsky, who is Jewish, says that the incident is the latest in antisemitic attacks on him and that free speech does not extend to his home.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Walker granted the injunction for Wood in part because Walker said her free speech rights were violated and the violation was ongoing.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees, claiming the company’s free speech rights were violated for speaking out against the legislation.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
Some experts and tech companies praised the bill, saying that the stiffest penalties were reserved for the worst forms of content and would not trample on free speech.
—Vjosa Isai, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Brazil’s political right has long characterized de Moraes as overstepping his bounds to clamp down on free speech and engage in political persecution.
—David Biller, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Elon Musk said Sunday that X would defy an order by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to block some accounts amid a growing confrontation between the social media company and the country’s judiciary over free speech and misinformation.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
The attacks on Glazer also have a silencing effect on our industry, contributing to a broader climate of suppression of free speech and dissent, the very qualities our field should cherish.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Speaking with the broadcaster Sky News on Tuesday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declined to comment on Rowling’s remarks specifically but characterized the new Scottish law as a violation of free speech.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Walker granted the injunction for Wood in part because Walker said her free speech rights were violated and the violation was ongoing.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees, claiming the company’s free speech rights were violated for speaking out against the legislation.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
Some experts and tech companies praised the bill, saying that the stiffest penalties were reserved for the worst forms of content and would not trample on free speech.
—Vjosa Isai, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Brazil’s political right has long characterized de Moraes as overstepping his bounds to clamp down on free speech and engage in political persecution.
—David Biller, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Elon Musk said Sunday that X would defy an order by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to block some accounts amid a growing confrontation between the social media company and the country’s judiciary over free speech and misinformation.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
The attacks on Glazer also have a silencing effect on our industry, contributing to a broader climate of suppression of free speech and dissent, the very qualities our field should cherish.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Speaking with the broadcaster Sky News on Tuesday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declined to comment on Rowling’s remarks specifically but characterized the new Scottish law as a violation of free speech.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'free speech.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near free speech
Cite this Entry
“Free speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20speech. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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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