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term:
Chilling Effect
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chilling effect n
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: a usually undesirable discouraging effect or influence [the chilling effect it will have on the assertion of legitimate claims "S. V. Bomse"] used esp. of First Amendment violations
Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.