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

There is a caveat: Interested residents must submit their plans to the city Development Services Department and obtain proper right-of-way permits. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2025

The infrastructure would be built entirely within a 32-foot-wide existing right-of-way and aims to maintain the adjacent multi-use path for cyclists and pedestrians. —Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025

Most of the incidents involved right-angle crashes attributed to northbound and southbound traffic from Iowa Street failing to yield the right-of-way to U.S. 231 traffic, INDOT officials said. —Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025

Under the current system, Bornheimer said, San Francisco essentially subsidizes car owners by giving them a free strip of the public right-of-way in the form of a curb cut. —Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 17 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1768, 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