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
No mention of Ukraine, not a word about Russia—VP Vance’s scolding lecture to Europe about free speech at the Munich Security Conference today was a complete embarrassment.
—Security & Defense Reporter Ellie Cook , Reporting From Munich, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
Noting that students felt harmed by Duncan’s views on race and sexuality, Steinbach wondered aloud whether the benefits of free speech justified its costs.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
Vance’s complaints struck at the heart of a key difference in the role of free speech in Europe and the United States, a much fresher democracy.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
Trump sued Twitter and Facebook officials in 2021 for barring him from the platform following the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots, accusing the platforms of violating his free speech.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025
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Security & Defense Reporter Ellie Cook , Reporting From Munich, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
Noting that students felt harmed by Duncan’s views on race and sexuality, Steinbach wondered aloud whether the benefits of free speech justified its costs.
—Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
Vance’s complaints struck at the heart of a key difference in the role of free speech in Europe and the United States, a much fresher democracy.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
Trump sued Twitter and Facebook officials in 2021 for barring him from the platform following the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots, accusing the platforms of violating his free speech.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for free speech
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 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal 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
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