american civil liberties union: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Political / Legal
Quick answer
What does “american civil liberties union” mean?
A prominent non-profit organization in the United States that defends and preserves individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the U.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A prominent non-profit organization in the United States that defends and preserves individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and laws.
Often abbreviated as the ACLU, it is a major legal advocacy group that engages in litigation, lobbying, and public education on issues concerning civil liberties such as freedom of speech, privacy, racial justice, and equal protection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in an American legal and political context. In British contexts, it may be referenced when discussing US politics, but there is no direct equivalent organization, though groups like 'Liberty' serve a similar function in the UK.
Connotations
In the US, it carries strong political connotations, often associated with progressive or liberal causes. Its mention can be polarizing, seen as a defender of rights by supporters and as a controversial activist group by critics.
Frequency
High frequency in US political/legal discourse; low frequency in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “american civil liberties union” in a Sentence
The ACLU + [verb: filed, defended, challenged, argued][Government agency] + was sued by the ACLUVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “american civil liberties union” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The group was ACLU-represented in the European Court of Human Rights case.
American English
- The state law was ACLU-challenged and eventually struck down.
adjective
British English
- He took an ACLU-style approach to the privacy complaint.
American English
- She made an ACLU-backed argument in her amicus brief.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in context of corporate litigation or discussions about employee speech rights.
Academic
Common in political science, law, history, and sociology texts discussing US civil rights movements and constitutional law.
Everyday
Appears in news discussions about court cases involving free speech, privacy, or protest rights.
Technical
Core term in US legal discourse and political journalism.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “american civil liberties union”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “american civil liberties union”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “american civil liberties union”
- Writing it in lowercase ('american civil liberties union').
- Using 'Civil Liberties American Union'.
- Confusing it with other NGOs like Amnesty International.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the ACLU is a non-governmental, non-profit organization funded by private donations and membership dues.
It stands for American Civil Liberties Union.
While often associated with progressive causes, the ACLU has historically defended the rights of individuals and groups across the political spectrum, including controversial figures, based on principles of free speech and due process.
There is no direct equivalent, but the organisation 'Liberty' (formerly the National Council for Civil Liberties) performs a similar role in advocating for human rights and civil liberties in the UK.
A prominent non-profit organization in the United States that defends and preserves individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the U.
American civil liberties union is usually formal / political / legal in register.
American civil liberties union: in British English it is pronounced /əˌmer.ɪ.kən ˌsɪv.əl ˈlɪb.ə.tiz ˌjuː.ni.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌmer.ɪ.kən ˌsɪv.əl ˈlɪb.ɚ.t̬iz ˌjuːn.jən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To have an ACLU moment (informal: to experience a situation where one's civil liberties are threatened)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'Liberty' in the name as the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of American freedoms, and the 'Union' as a group united to protect them.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SHIELD against government overreach; a WATCHDOG for constitutional rights.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of the American Civil Liberties Union?