animal rights

plural noun

: rights (as to fair and humane treatment) regarded as belonging fundamentally to all animals

animal rightist

-ˈrī-tist 

noun

Examples of animal rights in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Blair has been dedicated to animal rights advocacy for decades. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Aug. 2026

The last two elephants, Billy and Tina, were transferred last year to the Tulsa Zoo after decades of campaigns by animal rights advocates over living conditions and a history of deaths and health challenges. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026

On one side were animal rights activists who said carriage horses are overworked, get easily spooked on city streets, live in inadequate stables and are controlled by abusive owners and drivers. — Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 25 July 2026

Local animal rights group keeps the cats fed, watered, and sheltered, in addition to arranging medical care when necessary. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for animal rights

• adipocytes
• amalekites
• amphibolites
• electrolytes
• erythrocytes
• evaporites
• gametophytes
• granulocytes
• hepatocytes
• hermaphrodites
• histiocytes
• melanocytes