bragging rights

American  

[brag-ing rahyts] / ˈbræg ɪŋ ˌraɪts /

plural noun

1. the presumed right to brag or boast, often associated with winning a contest of skill, as cooking or fishing.

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bragging rights British  

plural noun

1. notional privileges that are gained by defeating a close rival

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Etymology

Origin of bragging rights

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bragging rights

What she’s earned are Instagram followers—more than 100,000 since the World Cup began, bringing her total to 2.8 million—plus bragging rights: “Mbappe sees all my stories. So does Neymar,” she says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

So being selected early isn’t just about bragging rights — it’s also a major financial windfall that can determine a player’s earnings for the next several years.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 23, 2026

“He’s really interested in the bragging rights of the moment,” said Michael Scherer, a journalist at the Atlantic.

From Slate ● May 7, 2026

There’s more on the line than bragging rights.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

We’d gone to a step show and watched a bunch of guys from the Black fraternities compete for bragging rights as the best steppers on campus.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad