free speech

noun

: speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

also : the right to such speech

… speakers were allowed to exercise their constitutional right of free speech …

—Harold Ickes

Examples of free speech in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Supreme Court paved the way for the phenomenon in a series of rulings, concluding that political spending is free speech. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026

Yet many of its students aren’t demonstrating even an elementary grasp of free speech. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026

In a country that bills itself as a beacon of free speech, educational institutions especially should not be curtailing it. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026

Several free speech advocacy groups cheered ABC’s decision to fight today. —Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for free speech

• beseech
• impeach
• outreach
• beach
• beech
• bleach
• breach
• breech
• each
• keech
• leach
• leech

Kids Definition

free speech

noun

: speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

also : the right to such speech

Legal Definition

free speech

noun

1

: speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

setting off an alarm bell is not free speech

—A. M. Dershowitz

2

: freedom of speech

an unconstitutional restraint on free speech

—National Law Journal