birthright

noun

birth·​right ˈbərth-ˌrīt How to pronounce birthright (audio)
: a right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth

Examples of birthright in a Sentence

the freedom that is our birthright believed that the house was her birthright
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Judges have recently blocked or suspended efforts by the Trump administration to ban transgender people from the military, abolish the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and to place restrictions on birthright citizenship. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025 Since returning to office, courts have blocked or delayed over 100 of his executive actions, including on immigration, federal workforce cuts, and birthright citizenship. Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025 In the first three months of his term, district judges have issued seventeen nationwide injunctions, blocking executive orders that, among other things, sought to end birthright citizenship, defund the Department of Education, and ban transgender people from serving in the military. Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025 Trump is attempting to deny birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, to babies born to parents who aren’t citizens or lawful permanent residents. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for birthright

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of birthright was in 1535

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Cite this Entry

“Birthright.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birthright. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

birthright

noun
birth·​right -ˌrīt How to pronounce birthright (audio)
: a right or possession that a person is entitled to by birth

More from Merriam-Webster on birthright

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