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
Ramon Martin
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
Randy Kennedy
civil libertarian
adjective
… continued divisions within the GOP on civil libertarian issues.
—Ian Duncan and Lisa Mascaro
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 operation, conducted in full public view, reflected intensifying national debate over immigration policy, policing and civil liberties—issues that profoundly affect the lives and rights of New Yorkers and set precedents for enforcement strategies across the United States.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
The signatories claim that the pursuit of superintelligence raises serious risks of economic displacement and disempowerment, and is a threat to national security as well as civil liberties.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
In an early win, civil liberties activists forced Mast to remove the provision from his draft legislation.
—Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Protest-goers told the Idaho Statesman about a variety of motivations for showing up, mostly covering civil liberties — rights for immigrants, women and transgender people — and Trump’s authoritarian actions.
—Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil liberty
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Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
The signatories claim that the pursuit of superintelligence raises serious risks of economic displacement and disempowerment, and is a threat to national security as well as civil liberties.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
In an early win, civil liberties activists forced Mast to remove the provision from his draft legislation.
—Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Protest-goers told the Idaho Statesman about a variety of motivations for showing up, mostly covering civil liberties — rights for immigrants, women and transgender people — and Trump’s authoritarian actions.
—Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for civil liberty
Cite this Entry
“Civil liberty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20liberty. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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