civil rights — the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsɪvəl raɪts/
Example Sentences
- The lawyer specialized in civil rights cases and never lost a case about pizza discrimination.
- Every citizen deserves equal civil rights regardless of their background.
- The government must ensure that civil rights are protected for all minorities.
civil rights
NOUN[/ˈsɪvəl raɪts/]
the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality

Marchers raise signs demanding civil rights as the crowd swells across the bridge.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The term combines the Latin adjective civilis (of or relating to citizens) with the English noun right (an entitlement or prerogative). Together, civil rights denotes the fundamental rights and protections that citizens are entitled to exercise within a society, particularly regarding equality, freedom, and dignity.
Breakdown
civil (from Latin civilis, meaning 'of citizens') + rights (from Old English riht, meaning 'what is correct or due'). The compound refers to rights upheld within the civic sphere and guaranteed to all citizens by law.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The lawyer specialized in civil rights cases and never lost a case about pizza discrimination.”
“Every citizen deserves equal civil rights regardless of their background.”
“The government must ensure that civil rights are protected for all minorities.”
“She devoted her life to advancing civil rights and fighting against social injustice.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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