civil rights
plural noun
: rights that citizens are guaranteed by their government through legislation or other government action to ensure equal opportunities (as for employment, education, housing, or voting) and equal protection under the law regardless of personal characteristics such as race, religion, or sex
especially
: the rights of personal liberty guaranteed to U.S. citizens by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution and by acts of Congress
Note: The 13th Amendment (ratified 1865) abolished slavery and the 14th Amendment (ratified 1868) granted citizenship and equal rights to all people born or naturalized in the U.S., including formerly enslaved people and African Americans generally. The 15th Amendment (ratified 1870) guaranteed the right to vote regardless of color or former enslavement.
compare civil liberty see also civil rights movementExamples of civil rights in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
He was also later convicted in federal court of violating Bils’ civil rights.
—
Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
And over 33 years, Clyburn – a civil rights activist, party strategist, and political kingmaker – has built his political network one handshake and one hug at a time.
—Robert Costa, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Many of its cases today are politically charged, centered on congressional redistricting and opposing election security efforts, rather than traditional civil rights complaints.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
Drawing criticism from outside and within The SPLC also drew ire from its peers in civil rights work.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil rights
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Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
And over 33 years, Clyburn – a civil rights activist, party strategist, and political kingmaker – has built his political network one handshake and one hug at a time.
—Robert Costa, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Many of its cases today are politically charged, centered on congressional redistricting and opposing election security efforts, rather than traditional civil rights complaints.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2026
Drawing criticism from outside and within The SPLC also drew ire from its peers in civil rights work.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil rights
Cite this Entry
“Civil rights.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20rights. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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