air right

noun

: a property right to the space above a surface area or object

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Amtrak owns the station—basically everything below street level except the subway lines, which are owned by the M.T.A. Dolan owns the air rights above most of the station. William Finnegan, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2023 So, how many planes are in the air right now? Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2022 Everything is up in the air right now. BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2021 So much is up in the air right now. Brian Stelter, CNN, 8 Dec. 2020 Any microwaves that were still within the device dissipate into the air right away, Raghavan says. Leslie Nemo, Discover Magazine, 6 July 2021 The league is more up in the air right now with who might be able to win more than it’s ever been. Dallas News, 2 June 2022 Just as the anniversary celebrations were going on, Mars threw out a little surprise: an odd rock, nicknamed the Jelly Donut, that seemingly materialized out of thin Martian air right in front of Opportunity. Corey S Powell, Discover Magazine, 30 Jan. 2014 Dogs benefit from two daily walks, which give you a chance to enjoy some fresh air right along with them. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 7 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'air right.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of air right was in 1922

Dictionary Entries Near air right

Cite this Entry

“Air right.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air%20right. Accessed 30 May. 2023.

Legal Definition

air right

noun
: a property right to the space above a surface or object (as a building) that may be sold or leased for development purposes
make use of the air rights above the TerminalPenn Central Transportation Co. v. City of New York, 438 U.S. 104 (1978)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!