animal rights

plural noun

: rights (as to fair and humane treatment) regarded as belonging fundamentally to all animals
animal rightist
-ˈrī-tist How to pronounce animal rights (audio)
noun

Examples of animal rights in a Sentence

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.
Efforts to ban the carriages have gone one for decades, as animal rights activists have long criticized the industry. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026 The move comes after years of criticism from animal rights advocates who charge that the horses are overworked, get easily scared and live in inadequate stables with drivers flouting city regulations. — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 Opponents, including several animal rights groups, have raised about $6,800. — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 10 Oct. 2026 Other disputes are minor, like the three animal rights activists who stole lambs from King Charles’ Sandringham estate. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for animal rights

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of animal rights was in 1845

Rhymes for animal rights

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Browse Nearby Words

animal pole
animal rights
animal rouge
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Cite this Entry

“Animal rights.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animal%20rights. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on animal rights

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about animal rights

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