right / rīt/ • adj. 1. morally good, justified, or acceptable: I hope we're doing the right thing | you were quite right to criticize him. 2. true or correct as a fact: I'm not sure I know the right answer her theories were proved right. ∎  correct in one's opinion or judgment: she was right about Tom having no money. ∎  used as an interrogative at the end of a statement as a way of inviting agreement, approval, or confirmation: you went to see Angie on Monday, right? ∎  according to what is correct for a particular situation or thing: is this the right way to the cottage? you're not holding it the right way up. ∎  the best or most suitable of a number of possible choices for a particular purpose or occasion: he was clearly the right man for the job I was waiting for the right moment to ask him. ∎  socially fashionable or important: he was seen at all the right places. ∎  in a satisfactory, sound, or normal state or condition: that sausage doesn't smell right | if only I could have helped put matters right.3. denoting or worn on the side of a person's body which is toward the east when they are facing north: my right elbow her right shoe. ∎  denoting the corresponding side of any other object: the right edge of the field. ∎  on this side from the point of view of a spectator.4. inf., chiefly Brit. complete; absolute (used for emphasis, typically in derogatory contexts): I felt a right idiot.5. of or relating to a person or political party or grouping favoring conservative views: are you politically right, left, or center?• adv. 1. to the furthest or most complete extent or degree (used for emphasis): the car spun right off the track I'm right out of ideas. ∎  exactly; directly (used to emphasize the precise location or time of something): Harriet was standing right behind her. ∎ inf. immediately; without delaying or hesitating: I'll be right back. ∎  dial. or archaic very: it's right spooky in there!2. correctly: he had guessed right. ∎  in the required or necessary way; properly; satisfactorily: nothing's going right for me this season.3. on or to the right side: turn right at Main Street.• n. 1. that which is morally correct, just, or honorable: she doesn't understand the difference between right and wrong | the rights and wrongs of the matter. 2. a moral or legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act in a certain way: she had every right to be angry you're quite within your rights to ask for your money back | there is no right of appeal against the decision. ∎  (rights) the authority to perform, publish, film, or televise a particular work, event, etc.: they sold the paperback rights.3. (the right) the right-hand part, side, or direction: take the first turning on the right | (one's right) she seated me on her right. ∎  (in football or a similar sport) the right-hand half of the field when facing the opponent's goal. ∎  (right) Baseball short for right field: a looping single to right. ∎  the right wing of an army. ∎  a right turn: he made a right in Dorchester Avenue. ∎  a road or entrance on the right: take the first right over the stream. ∎  (esp. in the context of boxing) a person's right fist. ∎  a blow given with this: the young cop swung a terrific right.4. (often the Right) [treated as sing. or pl.] a grouping or political party favoring conservative views and supporting capitalist economic principles. ∎  the section of a group or political party adhering particularly strongly to such views.• v. [tr.] restore to a normal or upright position: we righted the capsized dinghy. ∎  restore to a normal or correct condition or situation: righting the economy demanded major cuts in defense spending. ∎  redress or rectify (a wrong or mistaken action): she was determined to right the wrongs done to her father. ∎  (usu. be righted) archaic make reparation to (someone) for a wrong done to them: we'll see you righted.• interj. inf. used to indicate one's agreement with a suggestion or to acknowledge a statement or order: “Barry's here.” “Oh, right” right you are, sir. ∎  used as a filler in speech or as a way of confirming that someone is listening to or understanding what one is saying: and I didn't think any more of it, right, but Mom said I should take him to a doctor. ∎  used to introduce an utterance, exhortation, or suggestion: right, let's have a drink.PHRASES: bang (or dead) to rights inf. (of a criminal) with positive proof of guilt: we've got you bang to rights handling stolen property.be in the right be morally or legally justified in one's views, actions, or decisions.by rights if things had happened or been done fairly or correctly: by rights, he should not be playing next week.do right by treat (someone) fairly.in one's own right as a result of one's own claims, qualifications, or efforts, rather than an association with someone else: he was already established as a poet in his own right. (not) in one's right mind (not) sane.not right in the head inf. (of a person) not completely sane. (as) of right (or by right) as a result of having a moral or legal claim or entitlement: the state will be obliged to provide health care and education as of right.put (or set) someone right1. restore someone to health.2. make someone understand the true facts of a situation.put (or set) something to rights restore something to its correct or normal state or condition. (as) right as rain inf. (of a person) feeling completely well or healthy, typically after an illness or minor accident.right (or straight) away (or inf. off) immediately.right enough inf. certainly; undeniably: your record's bad right enough.right on inf. used an expression of strong support, approval, or encouragement. See also right-on.she's (or she'll be) right Austral., inf. that will be all right; don't worry.DERIVATIVES: right·a·ble adj.right·er n.right·ish adj.right·ness n.ORIGIN: Old English riht (adjective and noun), rihtan (verb), rihte (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Latin rectus ‘ruled,’ from an Indo-European root denoting movement in a straight line.

RIGHT

In an abstract sense, justice, ethical correctness, or harmony with therules of lawor the principles of morals. In a concrete legal sense, a power, privilege, demand, or claim possessed by a particular person by virtue of law.

Each legal right that an individual possesses relates to a corresponding legal duty imposed on another. For example, when a person owns a home and property, he has the right to possess and enjoy it free from the interference of others, who are under a corresponding duty not to interfere with the owner's rights by trespassing on the property or breaking into the home.

In constitutional law, rights are classified as natural, civil, and political. Natural rights are those that are believed to grow out of the nature of the individual human being and depend on her personality, such as the rights to life, liberty, privacy, and the pursuit of happiness.

civil rights are those that belong to every citizen of the state, and are not connected with the organization or administration of government. They include the rights of property, marriage, protection by law, freedom to contract, trial by jury, and the like. These rights are capable of being enforced or redressed in a civil action in a court.

Political rights entail the power to participate directly or indirectly in the establishment or administration of government, such as the right of citizenship, the right to vote, and the right to hold public office.

right †standard or rule of action; that which is equitably or morally just; just treatment; justifiable claim. OE. riht = OS., OHG. reht (Du., G. recht), ON. réttr; the sb. corr. to right adj. †straight; †upright, righteous; just, correct, proper; real, true; epithet of the hand that is normally the stronger OE.; mentally normal XII; (of an angle) of 90˚ XIV; correct in opinion, etc. XVI. OE. riht = OS., etc., as in the sb., Goth. raihts :— Gmc. *reχtaz, pp. formation with IE. *-to-; equiv. formations are L. rēctus, OIr. recht law, W. rhaith, Gr. orektós upright; f. IE. base *reġ- denoting movement in a straight line, extension.
So right vb. †guide, direct; †set up; set in order, set right, etc. OE. rihtan; Gmc. wk. vb. right adv. OE. rihte. righten (-EN5) set right XIV (rare before XVI). rightly (-LY2) OE. rihtlīce. rightful (-FUL1) OE. rihtful.

right2 right of way the legal right, established by usage or grant, to pass along a specific route through grounds or property belonging to another. It was often locally believed that a funeral procession taking a direct route to a graveyard could cross private ground, and in so doing establish a permanent right of way.
right to roam encapsulating claims for improved access for walkers to parts of the countryside traditionally restricted by landowners (especially in the interests of preserving game). The term in a general sense is recorded from the late 19th century, and with this specific use from the early 20th century, as associated with the views of the economist and journalist Harold Cox (1859–1936).

See also rights.

right1 Right Bank a district of the city of Paris, situated on the right bank of the River Seine, to the north of the river. The area contains the Champs Élysées and the Louvre.
somewhere to the right of Genghis Khan holding right-wing views of the most extreme kind; Genghis Khan taken as the type of a repressive and tyrannical ruler.