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
In Pennsylvania, a lawmaker is proposing a new state agency that would investigate schools and uphold students’ civil rights — traditionally the role of the federal government.
—
Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Through its investigation, the AG's office is seeking to determine if ICE has engaged in civil rights violations, including holding detainees beyond legal limits, denying food, water and medical care, failing to provide sanitary conditions and denying access to legal counsel.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
But the civil rights office was among the oversight offices that experienced hundreds of staff cuts over the past year.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 10 Mar. 2026
The organization will provide economic empowerment, educational opportunities, and the guarantee of civil rights for the underserved in counties in and around DFW.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for civil rights
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Through its investigation, the AG's office is seeking to determine if ICE has engaged in civil rights violations, including holding detainees beyond legal limits, denying food, water and medical care, failing to provide sanitary conditions and denying access to legal counsel.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
But the civil rights office was among the oversight offices that experienced hundreds of staff cuts over the past year.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 10 Mar. 2026
The organization will provide economic empowerment, educational opportunities, and the guarantee of civil rights for the underserved in counties in and around DFW.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Mar. 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 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
