Definition

1. Noun:
   • A right to publish and disseminate information without government censorship or restraint: "freedom of the press" is a fundamental principle that protects the right of individuals and organizations to gather and report news and opinions without interference or prior approval from state authorities. It is a cornerstone of democratic societies.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The country's new constitution enshrines freedom of the press. (The country's new constitution formally establishes and protects the right to publish without government censorship.)
  • Journalists argued that the proposed law was a direct attack on freedom of the press. (Journalists contended that the suggested legislation would undermine the right to report news freely.)

Advanced Usage

• "to uphold freedom of the press": to actively support and defend this right.

  • The organization's mission is to uphold freedom of the press worldwide. (The organization's goal is to defend the right to publish freely across the globe.)

• "an infringement on freedom of the press": an action that violates or restricts this right.

  • The court ruled that detaining the reporter was a clear infringement on freedom of the press. (The court decided that arresting the reporter was a violation of the right to publish freely.)

Variants and Related Words

• Press freedom (n): An alternative term with the same meaning as "freedom of the press."
  • The report highlighted declining levels of press freedom in the region. (The report emphasized worsening conditions for publishing freely in that area.)

Synonyms

• Free press: A system or condition where news media can operate without state control.
• Liberty of the press: A more formal or historical term for the same concept.

Related Phrases

• A free and independent press: A common phrase describing an ideal media environment operating under freedom of the press.
  • A democracy requires a free and independent press to hold power accountable. (A democratic system needs media that can operate without restraint to scrutinize those in authority.)

Noun

1. a right guaranteed by the First Amendment to the US Constitution