(the right of) first refusal
idiom
: the right to have the first choice to buy something on the same terms as offered to someone else
Examples of (the right of) first refusal in a Sentence
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To use the right of first refusal, tenants in larger properties have three months to start negotiations, then another four months after giving notice to conduct due diligence and secure financing.
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Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
The Bears ownership is structured more as a family business than a modern ownership group, and as Sportico previously reported, both the McCaskey and Ryan families had some sort of first refusal rights on McKenna’s stake.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2025
The 23-year old was a restricted free agent, meaning the blue and gold had the right of first refusal to match any offer that came Jackson’s way from another team.
—Tony East, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
An arbitration court rejected Exxon’s claim to a right of first refusal over lucrative Hess assets in Guyana, clearing the way for Chevron to complete the transaction after a long delay.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025
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Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
The Bears ownership is structured more as a family business than a modern ownership group, and as Sportico previously reported, both the McCaskey and Ryan families had some sort of first refusal rights on McKenna’s stake.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2025
The 23-year old was a restricted free agent, meaning the blue and gold had the right of first refusal to match any offer that came Jackson’s way from another team.
—Tony East, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
An arbitration court rejected Exxon’s claim to a right of first refusal over lucrative Hess assets in Guyana, clearing the way for Chevron to complete the transaction after a long delay.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for (the right of) first refusal
Cite this Entry
“(the right of) first refusal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/%28the%20right%20of%29%20first%20refusal. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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