anti-SLAPP law
noun
an·ti-SLAPP law
ˌan-tē-ˈslap- 
ˌan-tī-
plural anti-SLAPP laws
: a law intended to prevent SLAPP suits
Ken Paulson, who directs the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, said anti-SLAPP laws are like "free-speech insurance." "The key to an anti-SLAPP law is to prevent people with a lot of money and resources from intimidating people from saying anything negative about them," he said.—
Kim Bellware
Kim BellwareExamples of anti-SLAPP law in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This type of retaliatory litigation is precisely what California’s anti-SLAPP laws were enacted to prevent.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
California’s anti-SLAPP law protects against frivolous lawsuits.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
In March, a jury in North Dakota, which does not have an anti-SLAPP law, found the environmental organization Greenpeace liable for more than $660 million for its role in protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 22 Apr. 2025
The big picture: North Carolina is one of a handful of states without an anti-SLAPP law, according to the Institute for Free Speech, which protects people from frivolous lawsuits intended to keep them quiet.
—Alexandria Sands, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025
Such an outcome would have an obvious chilling effect on other environmental groups – the kind of result that anti-SLAPP laws are designed to prevent.
—Jennifer Safstrom, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
As of January, 35 states and the District of Columbia have anti-SLAPP laws, according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Protection varies from state to state Unlike many other states, North Dakota does not have an anti-SLAPP law.
—Jennifer Safstrom, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
Sloane’s legal team is also asking Judge Lewis Liman to award them legal fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP law, which protects against lawsuits intended to suppress free speech — particularly those filed by people with bottomless funds.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
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Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
California’s anti-SLAPP law protects against frivolous lawsuits.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
In March, a jury in North Dakota, which does not have an anti-SLAPP law, found the environmental organization Greenpeace liable for more than $660 million for its role in protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 22 Apr. 2025
The big picture: North Carolina is one of a handful of states without an anti-SLAPP law, according to the Institute for Free Speech, which protects people from frivolous lawsuits intended to keep them quiet.
—Alexandria Sands, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025
Such an outcome would have an obvious chilling effect on other environmental groups – the kind of result that anti-SLAPP laws are designed to prevent.
—Jennifer Safstrom, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
As of January, 35 states and the District of Columbia have anti-SLAPP laws, according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Protection varies from state to state Unlike many other states, North Dakota does not have an anti-SLAPP law.
—Jennifer Safstrom, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
Sloane’s legal team is also asking Judge Lewis Liman to award them legal fees under New York’s anti-SLAPP law, which protects against lawsuits intended to suppress free speech — particularly those filed by people with bottomless funds.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anti-SLAPP law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-SLAPP%20law. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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