bragging rights

American

[brag-ing rahyts] / ˈbræg ɪŋ ˌraɪts /

plural noun

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

bragging rights British

plural noun

notional privileges that are gained by defeating a close rival

"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

Etymology

Origin of bragging rights

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

bragging rights

How can someone have young children and decide to part with them for two months for a climb that is about, at face value, little more than bragging rights?

From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026

“It’s just part of who I am—and obviously it would be the best bragging rights ever.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

Joining the fight for Premier League bragging rights are Manchester United, majority-owned by US family the Glazers and Chelsea, whose ownership group is headed by American Todd Boehly.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

If any move does materialise for Romero, it would be a sensational development and be another deal, following the one for Eze last season, which would present a chance for bragging rights for Arsenal fans.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Besides, the space race was about a lot more than bragging rights.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023