English

Noun

chilling effect ‎(plural chilling effects)

1. (law) A discouraging effect, especially on certain forms of officially legal speech.

   The hate crimes bill would allow recent racist statements by a suspect to be used as evidence that a crime was racially motivated; some legislators were concerned that this provision could have an undue chilling effect on speech that could be construed as racist.

Related terms

• chilled speech
• libel chill

See also

• free speech
• freedom of speech
• freedom of the press