fighting words

fighting words
fight·ing words n pl: words which by their very utterance are likely to inflict harm on or provoke a breach of the peace by the average person to whom they are directed
◇ Fighting words are not protected speech under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. . 1996.

fighting words
n.
Words that in and of themselves cause injury or could provoke a violent response from listeners; fighting words are not protected under the First Amendment, and uttering them can constitute the tort of assault.

The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. . 2008.


fighting words
Inflammatory words that are either injurious by themselves or might cause the hearer to immediately retaliate or breach the peace. Use of such words is not necessarily protected "free speech" under the First Amendment. If the hearer is prosecuted for assault, claiming fighting words may establish mitigating circumstances.
Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. . 2009.


fighting words
n. Speech not protected by the First Amendment because it is intended to bring about a violent response.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary. . 2000.

fighting words
n.
   words intentionally directed toward another person which are so nasty and full of malice as to cause the hearer to suffer emotional distress or incite him/her to immediately retaliate physically (hit, stab, shoot, etc.). While such words are not an excuse or defense for a retaliatory assault and battery, if they are threatening they can form the basis for a lawsuit for assault.

Law dictionary. . 2013.

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  • fighting words doctrine — The First Amendment doctrine that holds that certain utterances are not constitutionally protected as free speech if they are inherently likely to provoke a violent response from the audience. N.A.A.C.P. v. Clairborne Hardware Co., Miss., 458 U.S …   Black's law dictionary

  • fighting words doctrine — The First Amendment doctrine that holds that certain utterances are not constitutionally protected as free speech if they are inherently likely to provoke a violent response from the audience. N.A.A.C.P. v. Clairborne Hardware Co., Miss., 458 U.S …   Black's law dictionary

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