right-of-way

noun

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

Examples of right-of-way in a Sentence

the bill for emergency aid was immediately granted right-of-way
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Others argue the state missed a major opportunity: routing the line along the I-5 corridor could have reduced costs by using existing federal right-of-way and bypassing dense urban areas. Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025 That could mean running federal and state reviews at the same time, streamlining right-of-way negotiations, and accelerating environmental assessments without lowering safety standards. Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025 Materials should be placed within three feet of the right-of-way and separated by type of debris. Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2025 An application has been filed with the city of San Diego for a public right-of-way vacation for excess space that had been reserved for future street purposes between 5895 and 5915 Desert View Drive in La Jolla. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for right-of-way

Word History

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of right-of-way was in 1768

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Right-of-way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right-of-way. Accessed 25 Aug. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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