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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.

“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

Over-the-top regimens of capsules, powders and injections have become bragging rights for the health-conscious and wellness-obsessed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

Pegula not only walked away with bragging rights over her podcast co-host, but she also won a bet that means Keys must sample something which is a Thanksgiving tradition for the Pegula family.

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026

I didn’t know what the other guy was playing for, maybe just bragging rights.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

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