first refusal

British

noun

the chance of buying a house, merchandise, etc, before the offer is made to other potential buyers

"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

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.

Swinney announced the first refusal policy ahead of a campaign visit to Inverness, saying it could help those struggling to get on the property ladder.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Forge noted that the right of first refusal process must be completed before trades on its platform are completed.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026

Texas Pacific will receive an equity interest in Bolt, warrants, and a right of first refusal to supply water to Bolt-affiliated projects.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

“They offered no advance. The clause that I really should have taken out was the right of first refusal, which boxed me in,” she explained.

From Slate • Nov. 3, 2025

These favoured but unthankful people were not taken at their word; after the first refusal, another and more urgent invitation is sent.

From The Parables of Our Lord by Arnot, William

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