Miranda rights

plural noun

US, law

: the legal rights of an arrested person to have an attorney and to refuse to answer questions

Examples of Miranda rights in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Woods was then taken into custody the following day by that detective, and according to the affidavit, allegedly agreed to speak with him after being informed of her Miranda rights. —Chris Spargo, People.com, 27 June 2025

How many times was the prime suspect in the Rubber Ducky Caper read his Miranda rights by crack Canton PD sleuths? —Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 7 June 2025

Once detained, Rodriguez waived his Miranda rights and answered questions from MPD detectives. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 24 May 2025

Carlos Reales Dominguez’s defense pressed Davis police officers whether the former UC Davis student on trial in a deadly 2023 knife rampage was advised of his Miranda rights while he was detained at the end of the violent spree. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 17 May 2025

Rhymes for Miranda rights

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Legal Definition

Miranda rights

noun plural

: the rights (as the right to remain silent, to have an attorney present, and to have an attorney appointed if indigent) of which an arresting officer must advise the person being arrested see also Miranda v. Arizona

Note: A reading of the Miranda rights usually includes a warning that anything said could be used as evidence. No statements made by an arrested person or evidence obtained therefrom may be introduced at trial unless the person was advised of or validly waived these rights. A fresh reading of the Miranda rights may be required by the passage of time after the initial reading, as for example if a previously silent person begins to speak or police interrogate a person more than once.

Etymology

from Miranda v. Arizona, the 1966 U.S. Supreme Court ruling establishing such rights