personal liberty

noun

1. the liberty of an individual to act with free will except for those restraints imposed by law to safeguard the physical, moral, political, and economic welfare of others.

Word History and Origins

Origin of personal liberty¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

"What stands out in the agendas of both Harris and Trump is that while they claim to advance ideological purity—progress, innovation, and personal liberty on the one hand versus protectionism, exceptionalism, and racial homogenization on the other—both are ultimately entrenched in a neoliberal framework," Caivano said.

From Salon

As corporate reach expands and diversifies, it bears examining whether these connections, shaky under a consumer’s gaze but steadfast under the counsel of a robust legal team, present a threat to personal liberty.

From Slate

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate for president, pitched his bid to the Libertarian Party on Friday, telling a potentially critical group of voters that he stands with them on “valuing personal liberty” and vowing to protect their rights to speak, to assemble and to “keep and bear arms.”

From New York Times

But a bare majority also let Florida voters have the final say on reproductive freedom, teeing up a momentous battle over personal liberty in a presidential election year.

From Slate

Given that his personal liberty will be at stake, his inability to ever acknowledge his own prior mistakes or admit personal limitations of any kind, Lauro and Blanche will surely have their hands full.

From Slate