civil rights

plural noun

: the nonpolitical rights of a citizen
especially : the rights of personal liberty guaranteed to U.S. citizens by the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution and by acts of Congress
was charged with violating the victim's civil rights

Examples of civil rights in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Even after more than a decade, civil rights attorney Connie Rice can still picture the moment: Emada Tingirides, then an unseasoned sergeant in the Los Angeles Police Department, walking into a meeting with Watts community leaders to pitch something radical. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2024 But Red Lobster was not immediately a popular spot with Black customers in Lakeland, and the mythology of Darden as a civil rights pioneer that has grown in recent years has been overstated. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 8 June 2024 Among the many critics of Forster’s use of blackface has been the NAACP, a civil rights organization focused on the advancement of Black Americans. Alana Wise, NPR, 7 June 2024 Founded in 1963 to monitor Black activism for the governor and legislature, the commission spied on civil rights workers and threatened their lives. John M. Giggie / Made By History, TIME, 7 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for civil rights 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'civil rights.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see civil

First Known Use

circa 1614, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of civil rights was circa 1614

Dictionary Entries Near civil rights

Cite this Entry

“Civil rights.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20rights. Accessed 14 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

civil rights

plural noun
: the nonpolitical rights of a citizen
especially : the rights of personal liberty guaranteed to U.S. citizens by the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution and by acts of Congress

More from Merriam-Webster on civil rights

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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