right
noun
plural rights
1
a
: qualities (such as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval
have right on their side
might doesn't make right
b
: behavior that is morally good or correct
old enough to know right from wrong
always tried to do right by her employees
2
: something to which one has a just claim: such as
a
: the power or privilege to which one is justly entitled
voting rights
his right to decide
b(1)
: the interest that one has in a piece of property
—often used in plural
mineral rights
(2)
rights plural
: the property interest possessed under law or custom and agreement in an intangible thing especially of a literary and artistic nature
film rights of the novel
3
: something that one may properly claim as due
knowing the truth is her right
4
: the cause of truth or justice
fighting for right
5
a
: right hand sense 1a
also
: a blow struck with this hand
gave him a hard right on the jaw
b
: the location or direction of the right side
woods on his right
c
: the part on the right side
d
e
: a turn to the right
take a right at the stop sign
6
a
: the true account or correct interpretation
b
: the quality or state of being factually correct
7
a
Right
: political parties and individuals who support and promote conservatism (see conservatism sense 1b)
—usually used with the
policies opposed by the country's Right
b
: the position of those who support the beliefs and policies of the political Right
the country's shift to the right
c
often Right
: the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the section of the legislative chamber to the right of the presiding officer as a result of holding more conservative political views than other members
also,
usually right
: the section of the chamber they occupy
8
a
: a privilege given stockholders to subscribe pro rata to a new issue of securities generally below market price
b
: the negotiable certificate evidencing such privilege
—usually used in plural
see also:
Examples of right in a Sentence
We discussed the rights and wrongs of genetic cloning.
women fighting for equal rights
Knowing the truth is her right.
Recent Examples on the Web
Surrounded by some of the state capital’s oldest buildings, the Green is where troops once assembled during the American Revolution and where suffragettes campaigned for women’s rights.
—
Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
While recognizing peaceful protest as a constitutional right, the judges said actions that disrupt public life, block roads, intimidate others or interfere with constitutional processes do not enjoy legal protection.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
But understand that over a near 18 year journey which saw the Mattel property go from Sony to almost a streaming pic at Netflix to back to theatrical at Amazon MGM Studios, that a lot of TLC has been put into this film by both Matel and Escape Artists to get the campy tone right.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 June 2026
At Ballet Arte Academy, the Solana Beach studio where Pointeworks founder Sophie Williams got her start, a life-size model of a human skeleton hangs to the right of the door, equipped with a bell that dangles from the pelvic bone.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for right
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Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
While recognizing peaceful protest as a constitutional right, the judges said actions that disrupt public life, block roads, intimidate others or interfere with constitutional processes do not enjoy legal protection.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
But understand that over a near 18 year journey which saw the Mattel property go from Sony to almost a streaming pic at Netflix to back to theatrical at Amazon MGM Studios, that a lot of TLC has been put into this film by both Matel and Escape Artists to get the campy tone right.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 June 2026
At Ballet Arte Academy, the Solana Beach studio where Pointeworks founder Sophie Williams got her start, a life-size model of a human skeleton hangs to the right of the door, equipped with a bell that dangles from the pelvic bone.
—Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for right
Cite this Entry
“Right.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
right
1 of 4 adjective1
2
: following what is just, good, or proper
right conduct
3
: agreeing with facts or truth : correct
the right answer
4
: appropriate entry 2, suitable
the right person for the job
the right tool
5
: straight sense 1
a right line
6
7
a
: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body which is away from the side on which the heart is mostly located
the right leg
b
: located nearer to the right side of the body
the right arm of the chair
8
: being shaped in such a way that a line drawn from the middle of the top to the middle of the base is perpendicular to the base
a right cone
9
: being or meant to be the side on top, in front, or on the outside
landed right side up
right side out
10
: acting or judging in a way that agrees with truth or fact
time proved us right
11
: healthy in mind or body
did not feel right
12
: most worth having or seeking
the right neighborhoods
the right people
rightness
noun
right
2 of 4 noun1
: the ideal of what is just and good
2
: something to which one has a just claim
—often used in plural
the right to freedom of religion
the movie rights to a story
3
: something that one may properly claim as due
knowing the truth is her right
4
: the cause of truth or justice
fighting for right
5
a
: the right side or the part on the right side
b
: a turn to the right
take a right at the stop sign
6
: the quality or state of being factually correct
there's both right and wrong in that argument
7
often capitalized
: the members of a European legislative body sitting to the right of the officer in charge and holding more conservative political views than other members
8
often capitalized
: political conservatives
right
3 of 4 adverb1
: according to right
live right
2
: in the exact location or position : precisely
right where you left it
3
: in a suitable, proper, or desired manner
hold your pen right
4
: in a direct line or course
go right home
5
: according to fact or truth : truly
guess right
heard right
6
: all the way
windows right to the floor
7
: without delay : immediately
right at 2 o'clock
8
: to a great degree : very
a right pleasant day
right
4 of 4 verb1
: to make right (something wrong or unjust)
2
a
: to adjust or restore to the proper state or condition
b
: to bring or restore to an upright position
3
: to become upright
righter
noun
Medical Definition
right
adjective
: of, relating to, or being the side of the body which is away from the heart and on which the hand is stronger in most people
her right foot
also
: located nearer to this side than to the left
right
adverb
Legal Definition
right
nounˈrīt
1
a
: qualities (as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval
b
: something that is morally just
able to distinguish right from wrong
2
: something to which one has a just claim: as
a
: a power, privilege, or condition of existence to which one has a natural claim of enjoyment or possession
the right of liberty
that all men…are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights—Declaration of Independence
see also natural right
Declaration of Independence
b
: a power, privilege, immunity, or capacity the enjoyment of which is secured to a person by law
one's constitutional rights
c
: a legally enforceable claim against another that the other will do or will not do a given act
the defendant may be under a legal duty…to exercise reasonable care for the plaintiff's safety, so that the plaintiff has a corresponding legal right to insist on that care—W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton
W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton
d
: the interest that one has in property : a claim or title to property
—often used in pl.
leasing mineral rights
see also real right
e
plural
: the interest in property possessed (as under copyright law) in an intangible thing and especially an item of intellectual property
obtained publishing rights
3
: a privilege given stockholders to subscribe pro rata to a new issue of securities generally below market price
Etymology
Old English riht, from riht righteous
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