divine right

noun

: the right of a sovereign to rule as set forth by the theory of government that holds that a monarch receives the right to rule directly from God and not from the people

Examples of divine right in a Sentence

He ruled by divine right. My boss seems to think he has a divine right to order people around.
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.
At the same time, more and more Americans embraced Manifest Destiny, the idea that continental conquest was inevitable and that the lands stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific (and possibly beyond) were American by divine right. Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026 The technology industry and anyone seeking to leverage AI needs to take this special report seriously because there is no divine right of acceptance of innovation. Richard Edelman, Fortune, 18 Nov. 2025 To experience that freedom is our divine right. Randal Craft, Christian Science Monitor, 25 Aug. 2025 Trump shooting ignited belief in MAGA’s divine right. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for divine right

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of divine right was circa 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Divine right.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divine%20right. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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