civil rights

plural noun

: the nonpolitical rights of a citizen

especially : the rights of personal liberty guaranteed to U.S. citizens by the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution and by acts of Congress

was charged with violating the victim's civil rights

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The growth of Republican Texas since World War II has many roots, including the rise of the oil industry, resistance to civil rights and other federal legislation, and the rise of suburban voters. —

Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2023 After decades of advocacy by LGBTQ+ activists organizing for civil rights and freedoms, Stanley said she was saddened to see how drag has become so polarized in today’s political climate. —

Claire Rush, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2023 Crockett served as a public defender and civil rights attorney before being elected to Congress last fall. —

Will Steakin, ABC News, 24 Mar. 2023 Since 2020, the work of those Courtwatch PG observers inspired the legislative fight in Annapolis for permanent remote access and has informed two federal lawsuits alleging civil rights violations at the county jail and in the courthouse. —

Katie Mettler, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2023 The move comes after Metro Council members and community leaders called for naming the LMPD personnel who were listed in the report as having mistreated and violated the civil rights of residents. —

Billy Kobin, The Courier-Journal, 24 Mar. 2023 The Jewish civil rights organization counted 237 antisemitic incidents reported in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Kern counties, a 30% increase from the previous year. —

Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2023 When three civil rights activists—Jack Chaney, who was Black, and Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, both white—were murdered by Klan members in 1964 in Philadelphia, Mississippi, there were no witnesses. —

Eric Herschthal, The New Republic, 23 Mar. 2023 The injury to his neck and spine left Cox paralyzed from the chest down, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump. —

Michelle Watson, CNN, 23 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'civil rights.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.