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
For some, Kirk and his organization means free speech.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 13 Dec. 2025
Many of the state leaders of Tennessee, including senator Marsha Blackburn, were in attendance as well to commemorate this historic win for free speech for high school students.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Americans gathered in prayer, peace, and unity, exercising the very free speech rights Charlie spent his life defending.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
The free speech organization claims that Meeks’ firing violates Supreme Court precedent, which established a three-part test to determine when a government employee’s speech is constitutionally protected or not.
—Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Dec. 2025
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Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 13 Dec. 2025
Many of the state leaders of Tennessee, including senator Marsha Blackburn, were in attendance as well to commemorate this historic win for free speech for high school students.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Dec. 2025
Americans gathered in prayer, peace, and unity, exercising the very free speech rights Charlie spent his life defending.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
The free speech organization claims that Meeks’ firing violates Supreme Court precedent, which established a three-part test to determine when a government employee’s speech is constitutionally protected or not.
—Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Dec. 2025
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 Dec. 2025.
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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