human rights

plural noun

: rights (such as freedom from unlawful imprisonment, torture, and execution) regarded as belonging fundamentally to all persons

Examples of human rights in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As technologists debate whether AI systems’ possible consciousness warrants a machine version of human rights, the pope insists that humans and machines differ fundamentally. — Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026

Amirhossein Safari, 27, Abolfazl Sepahi, 23, and Alirez Sepahi, 25, were brought by van to Isfahan’s Alikhani Street to be hanged for alleged crimes related to protests against the regime in January, according to human rights groups. — Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Former diplomats who have worked extensively on human rights told us they were shocked that the victimization of white South Africans would be prioritized over the serious issues elsewhere in the region. — Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2026

Guzmán said the fraud allegations could fuel protests against de la Espriella's government among Colombians who are already concerned that his anti-crime policies could lead to human rights abuses by security forces. — Manuel Rueda, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for human rights

• acolytes
• ammonites
• amorites
• analytes
• andesites
• appetites
• argillites
• astrocytes
• belemnites
• bryophytes
• canaanites
• carmelites

Legal Definition

human rights

noun plural

: rights (as freedom from unlawful imprisonment, torture, and execution) regarded as belonging fundamentally to all people