Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

freedom of speech

/ˈfriːdəm əv spiːtʃ/
noun phrase★Intermediate— the right to express opinions without censorship
⚖️Law
formal

The right to express one's opinions freely without government interference or censorship.

The First Amendment protects freedom of speech in the United States.

This legal principle ensures citizens can speak freely about political issues.

Some countries impose restrictions on freedom of speech to prevent hate speech.

These limits aim to balance free expression with social harmony.

💡

This right is often legally protected but may have reasonable limits in some jurisdictions.

Collocations

freedom of speechthe right to express opinions without censorshiprestrict freedom of speechto limit or control what people can sayprotect freedom of speechto defend the right to free expression

Synonyms

free speechfreedom of expression

Antonyms

censorshipsuppression of speech

Related Phrases

freedom of the pressphrase
the right of journalists to publish without government interference
hate speechphrase
speech that attacks or uses pejorative language against a group

💡Pro Tip

Legal Context

Freedom of speech is often discussed in legal and political contexts, particularly in debates about government power and individual rights.

⚡Gold Rule

Balancing Rights

Freedom of speech is often balanced against other rights, such as preventing defamation or incitement to violence.

📖Word Origin

The phrase originates from the concept of free expression, formalized in legal documents like the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

📝Usage Notes

While freedom of speech is a widely recognized principle, its application varies by country and legal system. Some nations impose limits to prevent harm or incitement.

Word Breakdown

freedom
the state of being free from restraint
root
+
of
belonging to or relating to
preposition
+
speech
the act of expressing thoughts in spoken words
root
English Dictionary

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Recent Lookups

The most recent words being looked up. Stay up to date with what language learners are exploring.