bill of rights

noun phrase

variants or Bill of Rights

: a document containing a formal statement of rights

a patients' bill of rights

specifically : a summary of fundamental rights and privileges guaranteed to a people against violation by the state

—used especially of the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution

Examples of bill of rights in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There have been no efforts since, aside from a few provisions in a farmworker bill of rights law signed in 2021 by Gov. Jared Polis. —Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2024

For instance, in Madison and Jefferson’s exchanges discussing the need for a bill of rights, freedom of conscience was invariably at the top of the list. —Steven K. Green, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2024

The inside story of the Patriots’ fall to rock bottom in the Bill Belichick era CT Board of Education adopts ‘bill of rights’ for non-English speakers. —Hartford Courant, 13 June 2024

My biggest question to state courts is why establish a bill of rights, which is the Bail Reform Act of 1984, and carelessly violate due process? —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bill of rights

often capitalized B&R

: a statement of basic rights and privileges guaranteed to a people

especially : the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution

Legal Definition

bill of rights

-ˈrīts

often capitalized B&R

: a summary of fundamental rights and privileges guaranteed to a people against violation by the government;

— esp, cap B&R : the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution