civil liberty

civil liberty

n

(Law) the right of an individual to certain freedoms of speech and action

civ′il lib′erty

n.

1. Often, civil liberties. a fundamental right, as freedom of speech, guaranteed to an individual by the laws of a country (as the Bill of Rights in the U.S.).

2. the liberty of an individual to exercise such a right without unwarranted government interference.

[1635–45]

civ′il libertar′ian, n.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	civil liberty - one's freedom to exercise one's rights as guaranteed under the laws of the country political liberty freedom - the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
	2.	civil liberty - fundamental individual right protected by law and expressed as immunity from unwarranted governmental interference civil right - right or rights belonging to a person by reason of citizenship including especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th amendments and subsequent acts of Congress including the right to legal and social and economic equality law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"