animal rights

plural noun

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web In 2016, the company removed elephants from its shows due to complaints from PETA and other animal rights activist groups. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2023 Video from animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere appears to show actor Alexandra Paul and Alicia Santurio taking chickens from a truck outside Foster Farms’ Livingston, Calif., plant. Christian Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2023 Outside of acting, Reed is a musician and involved in animal rights activism. Alexia Fernández, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2023 But animal rights groups say the commercial industry is cruel. Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2023 The organization operates in areas such as social aid, animal rights, humanitarian aid, and natural disaster coordination and assistance. Condé Nast, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2023 Avenatti was active in senior citizens groups, baked for neighbors, walked daily before the storm and collected bottles and cans to make donations to animal rights groups, Tetley said. Grace Toohey, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Mar. 2023 The leader of an animal rights group lauded the agreement, describing it as an example of HISA reining in a business. Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2023 Three months after a national physicians group pressured Oregon Health & Science University to stop using live pigs in its surgical training for residents, an animal rights group is taking up the torch with a new angle. Lynne Terry, oregonlive, 8 Mar. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'animal rights.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of animal rights was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near animal rights

Cite this Entry

“Animal rights.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animal%20rights. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

More from Merriam-Webster on animal rights

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