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

Cunningham has said she was not involved in organizing the rallies but praised attendees for exercising their right to free speech. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

The situation sparked a free speech debate and had Sheeran on the receiving end of punch lines and criticism. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026

The pollster and the newspaper described the lawsuit as a conspiracy theory and an affront to free speech protections. — Hannah Fingerhut, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Selzer’s case was taken up by the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. — Hannah Fingerhut, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 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