by right
/ˌbaɪ̯ ˈɹaɪ̯t/
"by-right" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“by right” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a prep_phrase - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 8
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - According to what is right, or what one is legally or morally entitled to; justly, properly, rightfully.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | by right |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Prep_phrase |
| IPA | /ˌbaɪ̯ ˈɹaɪ̯t/ |
| Letters | 8 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “by right” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for by right is 8 letters long, classified as a prep_phrase, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌbaɪ̯ ˈɹaɪ̯t/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 2 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
by right has no tracked misspelling variants, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: From by + right (“that which complies with justice, law or reason; legal, just, or moral entitlement”). The correct English form is by right, spelled B-Y- -R-I-G-H-T.
Definition
- 1According to what is right, or what one is legally or morally entitled to; justly, properly, rightfully.
- 2In reality; correctly, to tell the truth, truthfully.
Etymology
From by + right (“that which complies with justice, law or reason; legal, just, or moral entitlement”).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "by right"?
What does "by right" mean?
How do you pronounce "by right"?
What is the origin of the word "by right"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “by right”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is B-Y- -R-I-G-H-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˌbaɪ̯ ˈɹaɪ̯t/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.