civil rights
plural noun
: rights that citizens are guaranteed by their government through legislation or other government action to ensure equal opportunities (as for employment, education, housing, or voting) and equal protection under the law regardless of personal characteristics such as race, religion, or sex
especially
: the rights of personal liberty guaranteed to U.S. citizens by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution and by acts of Congress
Note: The 13th Amendment (ratified 1865) abolished slavery and the 14th Amendment (ratified 1868) granted citizenship and equal rights to all people born or naturalized in the U.S., including formerly enslaved people and African Americans generally. The 15th Amendment (ratified 1870) guaranteed the right to vote regardless of color or former enslavement.
compare civil liberty see also civil rights movementExamples of civil rights in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Next Generation Action Network, a civil rights organization based in South Dallas, released a statement on Monday saying the shooting was accidental and the victim was a teammate.
—
Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
For the next decade and a half, Soskin shared her history with visitors on tours — opening up about her experiences working at a segregated union hall as a file clerk during World War II and later becoming a political and community activist and songwriter during the civil rights movement.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit alleges violations of federal civil rights laws.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
At an age when most people are in retirement, the civil rights activist returned to work at 85 to serve as a park ranger in California.
—Outside, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil rights
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Steven Rosenbaum, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
For the next decade and a half, Soskin shared her history with visitors on tours — opening up about her experiences working at a segregated union hall as a file clerk during World War II and later becoming a political and community activist and songwriter during the civil rights movement.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
The lawsuit alleges violations of federal civil rights laws.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
At an age when most people are in retirement, the civil rights activist returned to work at 85 to serve as a park ranger in California.
—Outside, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil rights
Cite this Entry
“Civil rights.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20rights. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.
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