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

Pioneer applied three times for a right-of-way permit so that AquaBounty could build pipelines across private property. —Anna Clark, ProPublica, 18 Feb. 2025

In a transit-dependent city like New York, dedicating this unique right-of-way to a single-purpose park would squander the rare opportunity to grow the system without the usual rigors of digging new tunnels or laying entirely new track. —Paul Dreyer, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 2025

The four alternative routes supported by the SANDAG staff are: under Crest Canyon; under Camino del Mar; from the San Dieguito River Bridge to Interstate 5; and to double-track the route along the bluffs within the existing right-of-way without a tunnel. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025

The agreement calls for cost-sharing on some right-of-way work. —Amy Wilde, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

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