Definition of: right

(rīt) adjective
1. Done in accordance with or conformable to moral law or to some standard of rightness; equitable; just; righteous.
2. Conformable to truth or fact; correct; true; accurate; not mistaken.
3. Conformable to a standard of propriety or to the conditions of the case; proper; fit; suitable.
4. Most desirable or preferable; also, fortunate.
5. Pertaining to that side of the body which is toward the south when one faces the sunrise: opposed to left.
6. Holding one direction, as a line; straight; direct.
7. Properly placed, disposed, or adjusted; well–regulated; orderly; correctly done.
8. Sound in mind or body; healthy; well.
9. Geom. Formed with reference to a line or plane perpendicular to another line or plane: a right angle. See ANGLE.
10. Designed to be worn outward or placed toward an observer in use: the right side of cloth.
11. Law Rightful; legal.
12. Obs. Real or genuine in character; not spurious.
—adverb
1. In accordance with justice or moral principle.
2. According to the fact or truth; correctly.
3. In a straight line; directly.
4. Very: used dialectically or in some titles: a right good time, Right Reverend.
5. Suitably; properly.
6. Precisely; just; also, immediately.
7. Without delay or evasion.
8. Toward the right.
9. Completely or quite: The house burned right to the ground.
—noun
1. That which is right; moral rightness: opposed to wrong; also, justice.
2. A just and proper claim or title to anything, or that which may be claimed on just, moral, legal, or customary grounds: often in the plural.
3. Law A claim or title to, or interest in, anything whatsoever that is enforceable by law.
4. The right hand, side, or direction.
5. Anything adapted for right–hand use or position.
6. Often cap. In politics, a conservative or reactionary position, or a party or group advocating such a position, so designated because of the views of the party occupying seats on the right side of the presiding officer in certain European legislative bodies: used with the. Compare LEFT.
7. The outside or front side of a thing: opposed to reverse.
8. In boxing, a blow delivered with the right hand.
9. A stockholder's privilege to purchase new stock in a corporation at a special price, usually at par.
—natural rights Rights with which mankind is supposedly endowed by nature, such as the right to life, liberty, security, and the pursuit of happiness.
—v.t.
1. To restore to an upright or normal position.
2. To put in order; set right.
3. To make correct or in accord with facts.
4. To make reparation for; redress or avenge: to right a wrong.
5. To make reparation to (a person); do justice to.
—v.i.
6. To regain an upright or normal position.
—interj. I agree! I understand!
—right on Colloq. An interjectory phrase expressing enthusiastic agreement or encouragement: also used adjectivally. ♦ Homophones: rite, wright, write. [OE riht]
—right′er noun Synonyms (adj.): correct, direct, equitable, fair, good, honest, just, lawful, perpendicular, rightful, straight, true, unswerving, upright. See CORRECT, INNOCENT, JUST, MORAL, PRECISE, VIRTUOUS. Antonyms: bad, evil, false, improper, incorrect, iniquitous, unjust, wrong. Synonyms (noun): advantage, claim, exemption, franchise, immunity, liberty, license, prerogative, privilege. In the sense of that which one may rightly claim, a right may be either general or special, natural or artificial. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are the natural and inalienable rights of all men; rights of property, inheritance, etc., are individual and special, and often artificial, as the right of inheritance by primogeniture. A privilege is always special, exceptional, and artificial. It is something peculiar to one or some, as distinguished from others. A privilege may be of doing or avoiding; in the latter case it is an exemption or immunity; as, a privilege of hunting or fishing; exemption from military service; immunity from arrest. A franchise is a specific right or privilege granted by the government or established as such by governmental authority; as, the elective franchise, a railroad franchise. A prerogative is an official right or privilege, especially one inherent in the royal or sovereign power; in a wider sense it is an exclusive and peculiar privilege which one possesses by reason of being what he is; as reason is the prerogative of man; kings and nobles have often claimed prerogatives and privileges opposed to the inherent rights of the people. See DUTY, JUSTICE, PROPERTY.