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

After nearly two years of setbacks, Mayor Adams’ push to hire hundreds of junior school safety agents could hit a legal snag, a civil liberties group has warned. —Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 8 July 2025

The tour comes amid growing backlash from immigrant rights groups and civil liberties organizations, which argue that such facilities pose serious risks to detainee safety and civil rights. —Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025

There has to be a responsibility to take action when humanitarian needs are not being met, and protection of constitutional rights and civil liberties need to be at the front end of any policy making that Congress, for instance, would be considering around immigration reform. —Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 June 2025

Southern states argued that their rights to legislate independently superseded federal attempts to guarantee civil liberties. —Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 18 June 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