civil liberty

noun

plural civil liberties

: freedom from arbitrary interference in one's speech or actions by other individuals or by the government especially as constitutionally guaranteed (as by the U.S. Bill of Rights)

—usually plural

Examples of civil liberties include freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, the right to privacy, and the right to due process of law.

—Ramon Martin

compare civil rights

civil libertarian noun

plural civil libertarians

Civil libertarians contend that the heightened scrutiny has discouraged illegal immigrants from seeking marriage, … a fundamental right protected under the Constitution.

—Randy Kennedy

civil libertarian adjective

… continued divisions within the GOP on civil libertarian issues.

—Ian Duncan and Lisa Mascaro

Examples of civil liberty in a Sentence

Freedom of speech is a civil liberty.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Electronic Frontier Foundation and other civil liberties organizations have had to fight in court time and again to try to expose even the most basic frameworks of global dragnet surveillance and the rules that govern it. —Matthew Guariglia, The Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2024

This means Yoon, who has struggled to get his policies and budget through parliament despite being democratically elected, enacted martial law to hang on to and increase his power through an attempt to roll back civil liberties. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Dec. 2024

However, a 16-page report by the Community Review Board voiced concerns over consent, privacy and civil liberties that may be compromised and called for transparency on how Fusus will be used. —Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 20 Nov. 2024

Numerous amicus briefs were filed urging the court to rule against Phillips, including a brief by 17 state attorneys general and, perhaps most shamefully, a brief by the Colorado chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union standing against civil liberty. —The Editors, National Review, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

civil liberty

noun

: freedom from arbitrary interference in one's pursuits (as in expressing thoughts, practicing a religion, or pursuing a living) by individuals or especially by the government and especially as constitutionally guaranteed

—usually used in pl. see also civil right