by right
UK/ˌbaɪ̯ ˈɹaɪ̯t/
More pronunciations (1)Fewer pronunciations
Canada/ˌbʌɪ̯ ˈɹʌɪ̯t/
by right prepositional phrase: according to what is right, or what one is legally or morally entitled to; justly, properly, rightfully.
Prepositional phrase
(idiomatic)
- According to what is right, or what one is legally or morally entitled to; justly, properly, rightfully.
- The post of vice-president should, by right, have been given to John.
- Whiche praise, with the honour thereunto due, as inheritaunce discendeth by righte unto his most noble sonne, our moste dere soueraigne lorde that nowe presently raigneth. For, as Tulli [i.e., Marcus Tullius Cicero] saithe, the best inheritance that the fathers leue to their children, excellynge...1531, Thomas Elyot, “Of the Fifthe Branche, Called Circumspection, Shewed in Reprinse”, in Ernest Rhys, editor, The Boke Named the Governour […] (Everyman’s Library), London: J[oseph] M[alaby] Dent &...
- Synonyms:
- fairly, in fairness, in justice
- In reality; correctly, to tell the truth, truthfully.
- And ſome [fowl], becauſe the light doth them offend, / Neuer appeare, but in the darke, or night. / Other reioyce, to ſe the fire ſo bright / And wene to play in it, as they pretend: / Alas, of that ſort may I be, by right. / For to withſtand her loke I am not able: / Yet can I not hide me in no...a. 1543 (date written), [Thomas Wyatt], “How the Louer Perisheth in His Delight, as the Flie in the Fire”, in Songes and Sonettes, London: […] Richard Tottel, published 10 August 1557 (Gregorian...
Examples of by right in a sentence
- Whiche praise, with the honour thereunto due, as inheritaunce discendeth by righte unto his most noble sonne, our moste dere soueraigne lorde that nowe presently raigneth.1531, Thomas Elyot, “Of the Fifthe Branche, Called Circumspection, Shewed in Reprinse”, in Ernest Rhys, editor, The Boke Named the...
- A huſband and a ſon thou ovveſt to me, / And thou a kingdome, all of you allegeance: / The ſorrovv that I haue by right is yours, / And all the pleaſures you vſurpe are mine.c. 1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Sims [and...
- Well, whether the gentlemen really do deprive us of any little matters which ought to be ours by rights, I cannot say for certain; but the opinion of the old ones is they do.1863 October 24, Charles Dickens, “Titbull’s Alms-houses”, in The Uncommercial Traveller, new edition, London: Chapman & Hall, […]...
- I suppose that I should not by rights have told you.1884, H[enry] Rider Haggard, chapter VII, in Dawn […], volume I, London: Hurst and Blackett, […], →OCLC, page 101:
Synonyms of by right
- fairly
- in fairness
- in justice
Forms of by right
| alternative form | by rights |
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Origin of by right
From by + right (“that which complies with justice, law or reason; legal, just, or moral entitlement”).
Questions about by right
- What does by right mean?
- By right means according to what is right, or what one is legally or morally entitled to; justly, properly, rightfully.
- How do you use by right in a sentence?
- Whiche praise, with the honour thereunto due, as inheritaunce discendeth by righte unto his most noble sonne, our moste dere soueraigne lorde that nowe presently raigneth.
- What part of speech is by right?
- By right is a prepositional phrase.
- How do you pronounce by right?
- By right is pronounced /ˌbaɪ̯ ˈɹaɪ̯t/ (UK).
Words near by right in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: by right (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-us-by right.oga.
Cite this entry: “by right.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/by_right. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.