fundamental right

You use this phrase when you want to sound serious and principled. It usually follows verbs like protect, uphold, or violate. You can say, "Access to clean water is a fundamental right." It sounds much stronger than just saying "it's important." It implies that the thing you are talking about is a moral necessity. Use it when you are standing up for yourself or others.

This phrase is perfect for debates, legal discussions, or serious news conversations. You might use it in a meeting if a company policy feels unfair. It is also great for social media activism. If you are complaining about something minor, like the coffee machine being broken, using this phrase is a great way to use hyperbole for humor. "Getting my morning latte is a fundamental right!"

Avoid using this for small, everyday preferences. Don't tell your friend that choosing the movie tonight is your fundamental right. You will sound like a lawyer at a birthday party. Also, avoid it in very relaxed, slang-heavy conversations unless you are being sarcastic. It is a heavy phrase, so don't drop it into a chat about what shoes to buy.

In Western cultures, this phrase is deeply tied to documents like the Magna Carta or the Bill of Rights. It became a global superstar after World War II with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. People in the US and UK are very protective of these rights. They will often cite them during protests or even during small arguments with authority figures. It is the language of freedom.

You will often hear basic rights or human rights used interchangeably. In legal settings, people might say constitutional rights if they are talking about a specific country's laws. If you want to sound even more intense, you can use inalienable rights. That means rights that are literally impossible to give away or lose, like your shadow.