| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ noun
( plural rights-of-way or right-of-ways )
1. : a legal right of passage over another person's ground — compare easement , servitude
2. : the area or way over which a right-of-way exists: as
a. : a path or thoroughfare which one may lawfully use (as in crossing the property of another) : one established by persons exercising the right to pass over the property of another
b. : the strip of land devoted to or over which is built a public road
miles of right-of-way at the sides of improved highways — A.W.Wells
c. : the land occupied by a railroad for its tracks, yards, and buildings but especially for its main line
d. : the land used by a public utility (as for an electric power transmission line or a natural gas pipeline)
3. : a precedence in passing accorded to one vehicle (as an automobile, an airplane, a railroad train, or a boat) over another either by custom, by decision of an appropriate officer (as a train dispatcher), by municipal ordinance, or by statute
4. : the customary or legal right of traffic to take precedence over any other traffic (as from a certain direction)
usually street or road traffic in the United States has the right-of-way over all intercepting traffic except that approaching on the right-hand side and over all following traffic
a sailing vessel ordinarily has the right-of-way over a steam or motor ship
5. : the right to take precedence over others (as in speaking, acting, or being brought to the attention of a person or group) : permission or opportunity to proceed usually in precedence over others
if the rules committee refuses to give a bill right-of-way — Harold Zink
the generals were given the right-of-way where they should have been checked — J.T.Shotwell