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

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

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2019, northern Wisconsin’s Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa sued the Canadian company to get the pipeline off its land as the right-of-way easement expired more than a decade ago. —Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024

Here's how other candidates performed in Hamilton County The reconstruction of College Avenue includes updates to utilities, stormwater collection, safe pedestrian connectivity, landscaping the right-of-way and a new road design with intersection improvements. —Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Nov. 2024

Goodyear is currently in a license agreement that allows EPCOR to use city right-of-way to install water distribution systems. —Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 11 Nov. 2024

The town is commissioning a study to define the boundaries of the town's right-of-way and to review and analyze intersecting roads for vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle safety on three roads: Redding, Mill Plain and Sturges. —Brian Gioiele, Connecticut Post, 1 Nov. 2024

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