birthright

American  

[burth-rahyt] / ˈbɜrθˌraɪt /

noun

1. any right or privilege to which a person is entitled by birth.

   Democracy maintains that freedom is a birthright.

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birthright British  

/ ˈbɜːθˌraɪt /

noun

1. privileges or possessions that a person has or is believed to be entitled to as soon as he is born

2. the privileges or possessions of a first-born son

3. inheritance; patrimony

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Etymology

Origin of birthright

First recorded in 1525–35; birth + right

Example Sentences

Steven Schwinn, a law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, said the court is likely to reject the challenge to birthright citizenship.

From Barron's

This helps make sense of the narrow birthright exceptions: In contrast, foreign diplomats enjoy immunity and famously don’t pay New York parking tickets.

From The Wall Street Journal

Those words have long been understood to grant automatic birthright citizenship with only a few narrow exceptions.

From The Wall Street Journal

“You need fire and you need a chalice. To me, that fire is my creativity. It’s my birthright to create. And that chalice is the community that holds me.”

From Los Angeles Times

Isn’t it the birthright of every California citizen to be endlessly entertained?

From Los Angeles Times