civil liberty
noun
: freedom from arbitrary governmental interference (as with the right of free speech) specifically by denial of governmental power and in the U.S. especially as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights —usually used in plural
civil libertarian noun or adjective
Example Sentences
Freedom of speech is a civil liberty.
Recent Examples on the Web That put more-moderate Democrats at odds not only with members of their own caucus, but with the civil liberty and LGBTQ advocacy organizations with whom they’re often aligned. 
Hannah Wileystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2022 The state won an A grade from the Treatment Advocacy Center; S.A.M.'s lawyer argued that center advocates for medication and confinement, and ignores issues of civil liberty. Bruce Vielmetti, Journal Sentinel, 28 June 2022 For years, civil liberty and immigrant rights groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, have exposed and pushed back against ICE’s massive surveillance powers, launching lawsuits against the agency, with some success. Cindy Carcamostaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2022 The case was closely watched at the state and federal level by civil liberty advocates. Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2022 And Mike Lee, in particular, has a bipartisan history on civil liberty issues. Joel Mathis, The Week, 16 Feb. 2022 Though the difference may seem academic, civil liberty groups were concerned the case could vastly expand police powers because of the breadth of misdemeanor charges. John Fritze, USA TODAY, 23 June 2021 Biden’s team, wary of a fight over civil liberty and privacy, is developing measures to harden such systems without adding large-scale surveillance capabilities to the powers of the federal government. Joel Gehrke, Washington Examiner, 12 Mar. 2021 The Supreme Court grappled Wednesday with whether an officer pursuing a misdemeanor suspect can follow that person into their home without a warrant in a case civil liberty groups say could vastly expand police powers. John Fritze, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2021 See More
Hannah Wileystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2022 The state won an A grade from the Treatment Advocacy Center; S.A.M.'s lawyer argued that center advocates for medication and confinement, and ignores issues of civil liberty. Bruce Vielmetti, Journal Sentinel, 28 June 2022 For years, civil liberty and immigrant rights groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, have exposed and pushed back against ICE’s massive surveillance powers, launching lawsuits against the agency, with some success. Cindy Carcamostaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2022 The case was closely watched at the state and federal level by civil liberty advocates. Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2022 And Mike Lee, in particular, has a bipartisan history on civil liberty issues. Joel Mathis, The Week, 16 Feb. 2022 Though the difference may seem academic, civil liberty groups were concerned the case could vastly expand police powers because of the breadth of misdemeanor charges. John Fritze, USA TODAY, 23 June 2021 Biden’s team, wary of a fight over civil liberty and privacy, is developing measures to harden such systems without adding large-scale surveillance capabilities to the powers of the federal government. Joel Gehrke, Washington Examiner, 12 Mar. 2021 The Supreme Court grappled Wednesday with whether an officer pursuing a misdemeanor suspect can follow that person into their home without a warrant in a case civil liberty groups say could vastly expand police powers. John Fritze, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1614, 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