A right is a power or privilege held by the general public, usually as the result of a constitution, statute, regulation, judicial precedent, or other type of law. Legal rights are enforceable by legal institutions and can be invoked in courts of law.
- Examples include the right to free speech, the right to vote, the right to privacy, and the right to due process under the law.
Rights are also a legally enforceable claim held by someone as the result of specific events or transactions.
- For instance, someone who enters a contract has the right to expect performance from the other party or proper compensation for non-performance. These rights are specific to the terms and conditions outlined in the contractual agreement.
Loosely, "right" also means any situation or decision that seems proper or correct by virtue of legal, moral, or ethical ideals (i.e., the opposite of “wrong”). This kind of “right” may not be legally enforceable but is widely recognized and respected based on societal norms and ethical principles.
- For instance, there may never be a constitution, statute, or judicial precedent that forces people to respect their elders even though many people agree that respecting one’s elders is the right thing to do.
[Last updated in June of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]