god-given rights

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Rights that people believe God has given to everyone and that cannot be taken away.

   Grammar: Plural noun; used with plural verbs: these rights are god-given.

   Patterns

   • god-given rights
   • a set of god-given rights
   • believe in god-given rights

   The declaration lists life, liberty, and other god-given rights.

   They protested for what they called their god-given rights.

2. 2nounpluraldisapproving

   Things that people treat as if they deserve them, often in an annoying way.

   Grammar: Used in phrases like 'treat something as god-given rights'.

   Patterns

   • treat something as god-given rights
   • act as if something is one of your god-given rights

   He treats free coffee and snacks as god-given rights.

   They act as if low taxes are one of their god-given rights.

Common combinations

a set of god-given rights

The constitution is said to protect a set of god-given rights.

believe in god-given rights

Many people believe in god-given rights that no government can remove.

fight for god-given rights

They fought for what they saw as their god-given rights.

treat something as god-given rights

Don't treat your privileges as god-given rights.

Synonyms and how they differ

natural rights

More secular and philosophical; 'god-given rights' is more religious.

inalienable rights

Formal and legal; means rights that cannot be taken away, without mentioning God.

Word family

god-given right noun

The singular form of this phrase.

god-given adjective

Given by God; used before a noun.

Commonly confused: god-given rights or human rights?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “god-given rights”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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