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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

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

Amen Thompson added 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Houston -- gaining statistical bragging rights over his twin brother Ausar who scored 12 points with eight rebounds and three assists for Detroit.

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

On Monday night, either Indiana or Miami will grab hold of college football’s ultimate bragging rights and call themselves national champions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 18, 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

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