civil rights
plural noun
: rights that citizens are guaranteed by their government through legislation or other government action to ensure equal opportunities (as for employment, education, housing, or voting) and equal protection under the law regardless of personal characteristics such as race, religion, or sex
especially
: the rights of personal liberty guaranteed to U.S. citizens by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution and by acts of Congress
Note: The 13th Amendment (ratified 1865) abolished slavery and the 14th Amendment (ratified 1868) granted citizenship and equal rights to all people born or naturalized in the U.S., including formerly enslaved people and African Americans generally. The 15th Amendment (ratified 1870) guaranteed the right to vote regardless of color or former enslavement.
compare civil liberty see also civil rights movementExamples of civil rights in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her work, which touched on civil rights, the Black Power Movement, hip hop and more, also earned her several awards and accolades such as the Langston Hughes Medal, seven NAACP awards, an Emmy Award, 31 honorary doctorates and a Grammy Award nomination.
—
Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 16 Dec. 2024
In recent months, Jewish civil rights and legal groups, like the Brandeis Center, have also filed complaints against school districts for allegedly failing to address the sharp increase in antisemitic incidents since Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel.
—Karina Tsui, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
But the decision to restore an Arizonan's civil rights — and exactly which ones — is entirely at the discretion of a judge.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
The most infamous example was the FBI’s attempt to blackmail civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. by threatening to expose his extramarital affairs.
—Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
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Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 16 Dec. 2024
In recent months, Jewish civil rights and legal groups, like the Brandeis Center, have also filed complaints against school districts for allegedly failing to address the sharp increase in antisemitic incidents since Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel.
—Karina Tsui, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
But the decision to restore an Arizonan's civil rights — and exactly which ones — is entirely at the discretion of a judge.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
The most infamous example was the FBI’s attempt to blackmail civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. by threatening to expose his extramarital affairs.
—Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for civil rights
Dictionary Entries Near civil rights
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“Civil rights.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20rights. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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