free speech
noun
: speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
also
: the right to such speech
an unconstitutional restraint on free speech —
Nat'l Law Jour.
Nat'l Law Jour. Examples of free speech in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Advertisement The groups’ calls for changes, from policing to free speech issues, are not binding, and come as the university is grappling with another season of protest and debate over what constitutes hate speech.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
The city of San Antonio will no longer remove or hide comments on Animal Care Services' Facebook page after a national free speech group criticized the practice.
—Megan Stringer, Axios, 23 Oct. 2024
Amid this rise, there have been attacks on free speech, such as the increase in book bans and restrictions on public protests.
—Kristina M. Lee, The Conversation, 18 Oct. 2024
That means promoting entrepreneurship, investing in infrastructure, encouraging highly skilled immigration, ensuring worker choice, focusing on math and science education, promoting competitive broadband, protecting free speech, and entering free trade agreements.
—Gary Shapiro, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for free speech 
Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
The city of San Antonio will no longer remove or hide comments on Animal Care Services' Facebook page after a national free speech group criticized the practice.
—Megan Stringer, Axios, 23 Oct. 2024
Amid this rise, there have been attacks on free speech, such as the increase in book bans and restrictions on public protests.
—Kristina M. Lee, The Conversation, 18 Oct. 2024
That means promoting entrepreneurship, investing in infrastructure, encouraging highly skilled immigration, ensuring worker choice, focusing on math and science education, promoting competitive broadband, protecting free speech, and entering free trade agreements.
—Gary Shapiro, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for free speech
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'free speech.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Free speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20speech. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
free speech
noun1
: 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
A. M. Dershowitz2
: freedom of speech
an unconstitutional restraint on free speech—National Law Journal
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