What is the exact definition of freedom of speech?

Answer 1

When all else fails, go back to the text.

See what the original text says.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

A country's initial Freedom of Speech law is usually without limitations. Limits are develop as legislation occurs, which must happen anytime theory adapts to reality.

The ancient Greeks, democracy can only exist in a nation if Freedom of Speech and Freedom of assembly exist there.

The kind of limitations we have are pretty basic:
Obscenity. (Of course, how do you define it?)
Defamation/Slander/Libel
Perjury
Hate speech
Fighting Words (Breach of the peace)

There are more, but you get the idea.

Better yet, answer this with a quote from Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr:

"The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic. [...] The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent." Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., 1919

Answer 2

Freedom of speech is the concept of being able to speak freely without censorship. It is often regarded as an integral concept in modern liberal democracies. The right to freedom of speech is guaranteed under international law through numerous human rights instruments, notably under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, although implementation remains lacking in many countries. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes preferred, since the right is not confined to verbal speech but is understood to protect any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used.
In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country, although the degree of freedom varies greatly. Industrialized countries also have varying approaches to balance freedom with order. For instance, the United States First Amendment theoretically grants absolute freedom, placing the burden upon the state to demonstrate when (if) a limitation of this freedom is necessary. In almost all liberal democracies, it is generally recognized that restrictions should be the exception and free expression the rule; nevertheless, compliance with this principle is often lacking

Answer 3

There is no exact definition. Legislators do their level best to come up with one and end up hedging their bet with such caveats as "Provided such freedoms are consistent with the public good".

Answer 4

Agree with first answer but

The right to speak your mind without judgement or punishment by others