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

An Israel dominated by the far right would become more authoritarian, with civil liberties curtailed, particularly gender rights. —Ilan Z. Baron, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2024

That would set a dangerous precedent, the civil liberties groups contend. —Arthur Holland Michel, WIRED, 24 July 2024

The spying tool allows the government to collect intelligence on non-Americans outside the United States but also captures data from Americans, a feature that alarms civil liberties groups. —Madeleine O'Neill, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2024

That caused an outcry among civil liberties advocates, who viewed it as an avenue for Republicans to censor LGBTQ and other content. —Kevin Collier, NBC News, 31 July 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