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
Disney and DeSantis and his allies also are battling in federal court, where the company has sued DeSantis, claiming the governor violated its free speech rights by punishing it for expressing opposition to the law.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 18 Nov. 2023
The American Civil Liberties Union challenged Florida’s ban on pro-Palestinian university groups, arguing in a federal lawsuit on Thursday that the state is violating students’ free speech as tensions roil U.S. campuses over Israel’s war with Hamas.
—Gabriella Borter, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Nov. 2023
Supreme Court: The Supreme Court rejected Florida’s bid to enforce a state law that targets drag show performances that challengers say imposes unlawful restrictions on free speech.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023
The furor over free speech has engulfed campuses nationwide.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
But the government’s definition of fake news has raised questions about how to draw lines between disinformation and free speech.
—Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2023
Last Updated: Live Coverage Feed 9 hours ago A House Judiciary Committee hearing to discuss free speech and the rise of antisemitism on college campuses was disrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators on Wednesday.
—WSJ, 9 Nov. 2023
Constitutional protections for free speech govern official conduct and limit government employees' ability to silence certain commentary in the public square, but those protections do not generally extend to private conduct or property.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2023
An Oceanside woman ticketed for honking her car horn during a 2017 protest outside Rep. Darrell Issa’s Vista office has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her case and rule that horn-honking is free speech protected by the First Amendment.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Oct. 2023
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Mike Schneider, Fortune, 18 Nov. 2023
The American Civil Liberties Union challenged Florida’s ban on pro-Palestinian university groups, arguing in a federal lawsuit on Thursday that the state is violating students’ free speech as tensions roil U.S. campuses over Israel’s war with Hamas.
—Gabriella Borter, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Nov. 2023
Supreme Court: The Supreme Court rejected Florida’s bid to enforce a state law that targets drag show performances that challengers say imposes unlawful restrictions on free speech.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023
The furor over free speech has engulfed campuses nationwide.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
But the government’s definition of fake news has raised questions about how to draw lines between disinformation and free speech.
—Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2023
Last Updated: Live Coverage Feed 9 hours ago A House Judiciary Committee hearing to discuss free speech and the rise of antisemitism on college campuses was disrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators on Wednesday.
—WSJ, 9 Nov. 2023
Constitutional protections for free speech govern official conduct and limit government employees' ability to silence certain commentary in the public square, but those protections do not generally extend to private conduct or property.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2023
An Oceanside woman ticketed for honking her car horn during a 2017 protest outside Rep. Darrell Issa’s Vista office has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her case and rule that horn-honking is free speech protected by the First Amendment.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Oct. 2023
See More
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.
Word History
First Known Use
1765, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near free speech
Cite this Entry
“Free speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20speech. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
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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
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
National Law JournalLove words? Need even more definitions?
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