right-of-way

noun

ˌrīt-ə(v)-ˈwā 

plural rights-of-way also right-of-ways

1

: a legal right of passage over another person's ground

2

a

: the area over which a right-of-way exists

b

: the strip of land over which is built a public road

c

: the land occupied by a railroad especially for its main line

d

: the land used by a public utility (as for a transmission line)

3

a

: a precedence in passing accorded to one vehicle over another by custom, decision, or statute

b

: the right of traffic to take precedence

c

: the right to take precedence over others

gave the bill the right-of-way in the Senate

Synonyms

• precedence
• priority

Examples of right-of-way in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gould agrees that other areas should be considered for solar projects before farmland, like brownfields, rights-of-way and warehouse roofs. —Izzy Ross, Detroit Free Press, 11 Sep. 2023

After an initial review over several years, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management authorized a right-of-way grant on federal lands. —Susan Montoya Bryan, The Arizona Republic, 2 Sep. 2023

The area is bordered by Garland Road on the west, the Kansas City Southern Railway Company right-of-way on the east, Lakeland Drive on the north and Highland Road on the south side. —Ryan Conner, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2023

But regardless of where the town beach ends and where Brady was in relation to that, or where McClatchy’s property lines are, or where any right-of-way may be, police later affirmed that Brady was below the line 10 feet landward of the recognizable high tide line. —Brian Amaral, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2023

One of them would focus on minimizing safety hazards for traffic control workers who do their jobs in the public right-of-way. —Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2023

That permitted Portland and other Oregon cities to create and enforce ordinances that ban boozing on streets, sidewalks and public rights-of-way. —oregonlive, 11 Aug. 2023

That’s why alarm bells went off when commissioners learned TxDOT removed $490 million in funding for U.S. 380 and Spur 399 right-of-way projects. —Susan McFarland, Dallas News, 11 Aug. 2023

That program promotes pollinator-friendly practices on roadsides and highway rights-of-way that includes planting and seeding of native grasses, wildflowers, and milkweed. —John Sharp | [e-mail], al, 6 Aug. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

right-of-way

noun

ˌrīt-ə(v)-ˈwā

plural rights-of-way

1

: a legal right to pass over another person's land

2

: the area over which a right-of-way exists

3

: the right of certain traffic to go ahead of other traffic

4

: priority sense 1

gave the bill the right-of-way in the Senate

Legal Definition

right-of-way

1

: an easement or servitude over another's land conferring a right of passage

2

a

: the area over which a right-of-way exists

b

: the strip of land over which is built a public road

c

: the land occupied by a railroad especially for its main line

d

: the land used by a public utility (as for a transmission line)

3

a

: a precedence in passing accorded to one vehicle over another by custom, decision, or statute

b

: the right of traffic to take precedence