right-of-way

noun

ˌrīt-ə(v)-ˈwā 

plural rights-of-way also right-of-ways

1

: a legal right of passage over another person's ground

2

a

: the area over which a right-of-way exists

b

: the strip of land over which is built a public road

c

: the land occupied by a railroad especially for its main line

d

: the land used by a public utility (as for a transmission line)

3

a

: a precedence in passing accorded to one vehicle over another by custom, decision, or statute

b

: the right of traffic to take precedence

c

: the right to take precedence over others

gave the bill the right-of-way in the Senate

Synonyms of right-of-way

• precedence
• priority

Examples of right-of-way in a Sentence

the bill for emergency aid was immediately granted right-of-way

Recent Examples on the Web

When approaching an intersection, the California Driver’s Handbook says the vehicle that arrives first has the right-of-way. —Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025

Jankowski noted that 51 cities and 14 counties in Wisconsin already had similar fees, with some calling it a wheel tax and others, like Cudahy, calling it a right-of-way fee. —Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 11 Nov. 2025

In these cases, leaves are often required to be piled in the right-of-way rather than street gutter to minimize mess and clogged drains. —Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2025

For the bocce court bench project, the group is helping to facilitate the permit and right-of-way access. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for right-of-way

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

right-of-way

noun

ˌrīt-ə(v)-ˈwā

plural rights-of-way

1

: a legal right to pass over another person's land

2

: the area over which a right-of-way exists

3

: the right of certain traffic to go ahead of other traffic

4

: priority sense 1

gave the bill the right-of-way in the Senate

Legal Definition

right-of-way

1

: an easement or servitude over another's land conferring a right of passage

2

a

: the area over which a right-of-way exists

b

: the strip of land over which is built a public road

c

: the land occupied by a railroad especially for its main line

d

: the land used by a public utility (as for a transmission line)

3

a

: a precedence in passing accorded to one vehicle over another by custom, decision, or statute

b

: the right of traffic to take precedence