civil liberty

noun

plural civil liberties

: freedom from arbitrary interference in one's speech or actions by other individuals or by the government especially as constitutionally guaranteed (as by the U.S. Bill of Rights)

—usually plural

Examples of civil liberties include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, the right to privacy, and the right to due process of law.

—Ramon Martin

compare civil rights

civil libertarian noun

plural civil libertarians

Civil libertarians contend that the heightened scrutiny has discouraged illegal immigrants from seeking marriage, … a fundamental right protected under the Constitution.

—Randy Kennedy

civil libertarian adjective

… continued divisions within the GOP on civil libertarian issues.

—Ian Duncan and Lisa Mascaro

Examples of civil liberty in a Sentence

Freedom of speech is a civil liberty.

Recent Examples on the Web

Efforts to fast-track removals and restrict legal challenges from undocumented immigrants have been met with high-profile lawsuits from immigrant advocacy groups and civil liberties organizations. —Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025

The Center for Democracy and Technology, a civil liberties nonprofit that worked on an AI task force, applauded Rodriguez for killing the bill versus stripping any of the protections provided in the 2024 law. —Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 5 May 2025

But the Trump administration still appears to be claiming a zone of power in which civil liberties do not apply, and over which courts have no authority. —Amanda Taub, New York Times, 3 May 2025

This was indisputably a victory for civil liberties on the UMD campus. —Wynn Smiley, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

civil liberty

noun

: freedom from arbitrary interference in one's pursuits (as in expressing thoughts, practicing a religion, or pursuing a living) by individuals or especially by the government and especially as constitutionally guaranteed

—usually used in pl. see also civil right