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Added 7 October 2026

right

/ɹaɪt/ noun

In Latin: dexter Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about right at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An abstract idea of that which is due to a person or governmental body by law or tradition or nature.
they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights
Location near or direction toward the right side; i.e. the side to the south when a person or object faces east.
he stood on the right
The piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's right.

verb

Make reparations or amends for.
right a wrongs done to the victims of the Holocaust
Put in or restore to an upright position.
They righted the sailboat that had capsized
Regain an upright or proper position.
The capsized boat righted again

adjective

Being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the east when facing north.
my right hand
Free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth.
the correct answer
Socially right or correct.
it isn't right to leave the party without saying goodbye

adverb

Precisely, exactly.
stand right here!
Immediately.
she called right after dinner
Exactly.
he fell flop on his face

Origin

From Middle English reȝt, right, righte, riht, riȝt, riȝte, ryght, ryȝt, from Old English reht, reoht, rieht, riht, ryht (“right,” also the word for “straight” and “direct”), from Proto-West Germanic *reht, from Proto-Germanic *rehtaz (“right, straight; just, morally upright”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵtós (“right, straightened”), from *h₃reǵ- (“to straighten; to righten”). The Germanic adjective which has been used also as a noun since the common Germanic period.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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