Definition

Noun: 1. A formal declaration of the fundamental rights and liberties of a people: A document or statement that explicitly lists and guarantees the most important legal and civil rights of individuals, typically intended to protect them from government overreach. 2. Specifically, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution: The collective name for the initial amendments to the United States Constitution, which enumerate specific individual freedoms and limitations on federal power, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, and the right to a fair trial.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The new constitution includes a comprehensive bill of rights to protect citizens' freedoms.
  • Many of the liberties Americans enjoy are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
  • The organization is advocating for a patient's bill of rights.

Advanced Usage

• "to be enshrined in a bill of rights": To be formally and permanently protected within such a document.
  • Freedom of assembly is enshrined in the bill of rights.
• "a charter/bill of rights": Often used interchangeably, though a "charter" can be a broader foundational document.
  • The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms functions as the country's bill of rights.

Variants and Related Words

• Charter (n): A formal written grant of rights or a body of fundamental principles.
• Amendment (n): A formal change or addition to a legal document, especially a constitution.
• Constitution (n): The system of fundamental principles and established precedents by which a state or organization is governed.

Synonyms

• Declaration of rights
• Charter of liberties
• Fundamental rights guarantee

Related Phrases

• First Amendment rights: Refers specifically to the rights protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights (e.g., religion, speech, press, assembly).
  • The lawsuit centers on a violation of his First Amendment rights.
• To invoke the Bill of Rights: To call upon or cite its protections as a legal defense.
  • The defendant invoked the Bill of Rights in his defense.

Noun

1. a statement of fundamental rights and privileges (especially the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution)