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

According to city documents, the board approved a right-of-way permit for 61st Avenue restriping and temporary signals for data center construction traffic. — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

If two cars arrive at the same time directly across from each other, and one car is turning left while the other is going straight, the car going straight always has the right-of-way, Rodriguez said. — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026

Metro’s count, conducted by 62 employees, riders and outreach teams, focused on stations, rights-of-way, and parking lots, and was separate from Los Angeles County’s annual count of unhoused individuals. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026

Unlike earlier telecom providers that leased infrastructure or delivered service wirelessly, WJBTN owns the backbone fiber, the right-of-way, and the poles carrying the network. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for right-of-way

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• 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