Final answer:
Fighting words are a category of speech that is not protected under the First Amendment. They are intended to provoke an immediate response or incite violence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fighting words are a category of speech that is not protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution. They are words that, by their very utterance, cause harm or incite an immediate breach of the peace. Examples of fighting words can include insults, epithets, or expressions that provoke anger or violence.
Distinguishing characteristics of fighting words include:
- They can hurt the listener's feelings in some way.
- They are intended to provoke an immediate response or incite violence.
In contrast, protected forms of speech, such as political speech or abstract ideas, are not intended to harm or provoke violence. They are typically considered to be part of the marketplace of ideas and are afforded greater protection under the First Amendment.