by rights

Idioms

Justly, in fairness, as in By rights he should have been chosen first. Originally put as by right, this term was first recorded about 1315.

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.

Those proposals have been criticised by rights groups as inhumane.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

The drivers were speaking in pool interviews provided by rights holder F1 and governing body the FIA, or in team statements.

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he had been told that "executions" had stopped in Iran, amid reports by rights groups that Iranian authorities were brutally supressing protests against the government.

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

But we all know, by rights, Doris' house belongs to Nessa.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2025

"The girl as well? No doubt. So when the king dies . . ." "The throne by rights passes to Lord Stannis, the elder of Robert's two brothers."

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

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