birthright

[burth-rahyt]

See more synonyms for birthright on Thesaurus.com

noun

any right or privilege to which a person is entitled by birth: Democracy maintains that freedom is a birthright.

Origin of birthright

First recorded in 1525–35; birth + right

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for birthright

Contemporary Examples

Anthony Goldstein probably chose a trip to the Quidditch World Cup over his Birthright trip to Israel.
Harry Potter and the Torah of Terror
Candida Moss, Joel Baden
January 4, 2015
I cannot sell my birthright, nor am I prepared to sell the birthright of the people to be free.
Nelson Mandela Demanded Justice Before Forgiving White South Africans
Peter Beinart
December 9, 2013
Beinart also mischaracterizes what I say about Birthright and other organized trips to Israel.
'Is It Good For The Jews?' Is Not The Question
Shany Mor
December 9, 2013
I note that the situation is not as simple as he believes and that Birthright trips avoid settlements too.
'Is It Good For The Jews?' Is Not The Question
Shany Mor
December 9, 2013
When Yigal Amir shot and killed Yitzhak Rabin, he did so in the insane belief that Rabin had betrayed a Jewish birthright.
Don't Let the Maccabees Win
Matt Lerner
December 4, 2013

Historical Examples

He was of the make that wears unbending hope as its birthright.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
It is our birthright as citizens of this great Republic, and we'll meet this challenge.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
ESAU, an ancient who sold his birthright for a mess of breakfast food.
Who Was Who: 5000 B. C. to Date
Anonymous
Was she without that delicate sensitiveness which is the birthright of all nice women?
A Nest of Spies
Pierre Souvestre
They stand for that which deprives these children of their birthright.
Lotus Buds
Amy Carmichael

British Dictionary definitions for birthright

birthright

noun

privileges or possessions that a person has or is believed to be entitled to as soon as he is born
the privileges or possessions of a first-born son
inheritance; patrimony

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for birthright

n.

also birth-right, 1530s, from birth (n.) + right (n.). Used as an adjective from 1650s, especially by Quakers.

birthright

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}birthright

Examples from the Web for birthright

Contemporary Examples

Anthony Goldstein probably chose a trip to the Quidditch World Cup over his Birthright trip to Israel.

I cannot sell my birthright, nor am I prepared to sell the birthright of the people to be free.

Beinart also mischaracterizes what I say about Birthright and other organized trips to Israel.

I note that the situation is not as simple as he believes and that Birthright trips avoid settlements too.

When Yigal Amir shot and killed Yitzhak Rabin, he did so in the insane belief that Rabin had betrayed a Jewish birthright.

Historical Examples

He was of the make that wears unbending hope as its birthright.

It is our birthright as citizens of this great Republic, and we'll meet this challenge.

ESAU, an ancient who sold his birthright for a mess of breakfast food.

Was she without that delicate sensitiveness which is the birthright of all nice women?

They stand for that which deprives these children of their birthright.

birthright

Word Origin and History for birthright

n.

Origin of birthright