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

Since then, India has kept order in the region with a huge security presence and drastically curbed dissent, civil liberties and media freedoms. —Time, 25 Apr. 2025

This pivotal moment set the stage for the inaugural Hash Bash on April 1, 1972, marking the beginning of a tradition centered on cannabis advocacy and civil liberties. —Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025

But critics have called for outside oversight, with civil liberty advocates warning the administration is rushing to deport individuals without offering full evidence to support allegations of gang affiliation. —Tara Suter, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025

The goal, civil liberties advocates say, is to silence protesters through campaigns that have cost targets jobs and led to death threats. —Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 13 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