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 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

These are a few of the plentiful subjects broached by the movie, which goes on to encompass snippets of various activist groups, civil liberties attorneys, and local politicians, but all these topics are crammed into a scant 84-minute runtime, and few are given the requisite attention. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026

Reed, the Guardian editor, said the panel discussion will examine the circumstances surrounding Khalil’s arrest and the broader implications for civil liberties. —Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026

Even then, constitutional protections of religious free exercise remain important to society’s civil liberties on the whole, even the project of science. —Cory Anderson, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026

Public safety and civil liberties are not mutually exclusive ideas. —Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026

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