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

But lawmakers added an amendment in response to the decision to align with its determinations about free speech protections in therapy settings. —Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026

Federal prosecutors said in court papers that Combs' recordings don't make his case a free speech issue. —ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026

The dispute centers on students at Barry University’s law school in Orlando who sought to establish a chapter of TPUSA, a nonprofit organization founded by the late free speech activist Charlie Kirk. —Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2026

This blue state's latest attack on free speech is awful and sneaky, too. —FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 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