fourteenth amendment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Legal
Quick answer
What does “fourteenth amendment” mean?
An amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and guaranteeing all citizens equal protection under the law.
A foundational legal principle in U.S. constitutional law, often invoked in cases involving civil rights, due process, and the application of the Bill of Rights to state governments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in an American legal and historical context. In British contexts, it would only appear in discussions of comparative law or U.S. history.
Connotations
In the U.S., it carries strong connotations of civil rights, equality, and constitutional jurisprudence. In the UK, it is a technical reference to foreign law.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in American academic/legal discourse; very low to zero in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “fourteenth amendment” in a Sentence
The Fourteenth Amendment [verb: guarantees/provides/ensures]...A [noun: right/claim] under the Fourteenth AmendmentTo [verb: invoke/cite/apply] the Fourteenth AmendmentVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fourteenth amendment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The barrister argued the statute should be Fourteenth-Amendmented out of existence. (Very rare, creative legal slang)
American English
- The law was challenged and ultimately Fourteenth-Amendmented by the Supreme Court. (Informal legal jargon)
adjective
British English
- The scholar presented a Fourteenth-Amendment analysis of the human rights act. (Comparative)
American English
- The lawsuit raised a classic Fourteenth-Amendment question regarding due process.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in discussions of employment discrimination law or corporate citizenship.
Academic
Central to courses in U.S. history, constitutional law, political science, and civil rights.
Everyday
Used in news discussions about Supreme Court rulings, civil rights issues, or historical documentaries.
Technical
The precise term in U.S. legal documents, court opinions, and constitutional scholarship.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fourteenth amendment”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fourteenth amendment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fourteenth amendment”
- Writing it in lowercase ('fourteenth amendment').
- Referring to it in non-U.S. contexts as if it were applicable.
- Confusing it with the Thirteenth (abolished slavery) or Fifteenth (voting rights) Amendments.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was ratified on July 9, 1868.
The Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause.
Generally, no. The Fourteenth Amendment applies to 'state action,' meaning actions by state and local governments. Private discrimination is addressed by other federal laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
It is the legal doctrine through which the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment has been used to apply most of the protections in the Bill of Rights to state governments, not just the federal government.
An amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1868, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.
Fourteenth amendment is usually formal, academic, legal in register.
Fourteenth amendment: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːˈtiːnθ əˈmendmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɔrˈtinθ əˈmɛndmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Fourteenth Amendment case (a lawsuit centered on equal protection or due process)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'Fourteen' for 1868 (1+8=9, 6+8=14) and its core purpose: 'FOR TEENS and everyone else to have equal rights' (a play on 'fourteen').
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CONSTITUTION IS A LIVING DOCUMENT; THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT IS ITS SHIELD (protecting citizens).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary legal function of the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause?