water right

noun

1. the right to make use of the water from a particular stream, lake, or irrigation canal.

water right

noun

1. the right to make use of a water supply, as for irrigation

Word History and Origins

Origin of water right¹

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95

Example Sentences

Boric has embraced positions, such as making currently privately-held water rights a public or common resource, which previous leftist governments in Chile have shied away from.

From Time

In some parts of the Sacramento Valley, depending on water rights, he says, farmers received no water this season.

From Science News

Changes in the laws that remove the threat of penalties for not exercising water rights, or that expand rewards for ranchers who conserve water, could be an easy remedy.

From ProPublica

There are more water rights on paper than there is water in the river.

From Popular-Science

There are also down-ticket races—from congressional battles to ballot measures—that will have wide-ranging impact on wildlife, water rights, renewable resources, and more.

From Outside Online

Six hundred feet below is water—right—and Jews on both sides.

From The Daily Beast

Only the petrol tins they took for water right and left of their pathway up the cliff; huge diamonds in the evening sun.

From Project Gutenberg

Dead ground; defiladed from inland batteries; deep water right close to the shore!

From Project Gutenberg

It is bad to go into the water right after eatin, said Perk.

From Project Gutenberg

It seems a pity to let them wilt, when you can put them in water right here.

From Project Gutenberg

The moon was just coming up out of the east, making a silver path across the water right up to the Ark.

From Project Gutenberg