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 of right-of-way

• precedence
• priority

Examples of right-of-way in a Sentence

the bill for emergency aid was immediately granted right-of-way

Recent Examples on the Web

The trail, which is located primarily within former Burlington Northern Railway railroad right-of-way, currently has two separate one-mile gaps in Hugo, where the BNSF Railway railroad is still active. —Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2026

Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez said the design process is about 60% complete, and then the team will move into right-of-way acquisition before going to TxDOT for funding. —Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026

The driver failed to yield the right-of-way. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026

Front Range trains would use existing tracks and right-of-ways and run at speeds up to 79 miles per hour, competitive with driving along Interstate 25, depending on traffic, according to district documents. —Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for right-of-way

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

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