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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.
Examples of free speech in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bowen in his suit against Police Chief Jim Ison claims his First Amendment rights to free speech were violated and the chief retaliated against him over critical remarks the officer made on Facebook.
—Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Mar. 2024
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Finally, this dependence on social media is shaping the right’s position on free speech.
—David French, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024
Arizona politicians have devoted lasting attention to free speech on college campuses over the last few years, particularly focused on Arizona State University, but the outcomes have been varied.
—The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024
What should have been a regular Matthews Board of Commissioners meeting briefly devolved into a conversation about free speech on Monday.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2024
Critics have said the bill violates the United States Constitution’s First Amendment protections for free speech and that parents, not the government, should make decisions about the online presence of their children.
—Gabriella Borter, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Feb. 2024
The result, critics argue, is stifling free speech.
—Rick Rojas, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024
Facebook and Twitter say that both laws infringe on free speech rights of companies under the Constitution’s First Amendment by restricting their ability to choose what content to publish on their platforms.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024
California should be the first state defending the right to free speech on the internet.
—The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024
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 19 Mar. 2024.
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
2
: freedom of speech
an unconstitutional restraint on free speech—National Law Journal
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