grandfather rights

noun

Rights granted because of a pre-existing right or privilege, e.g. before a change in the law.

“He was able to drive a 7.5-tonner using his grandfather rights, as he obtained his driving licence before the law was changed.”

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Meanings

noungrandfather rights pl (normally plural, singular grandfather right)

singular grandfather right

  1. pluralplural normallyRights granted because of a pre-existing right or privilege, e.g. before a change in the law.

    He was able to drive a 7.5-tonner using his grandfather rights, as he obtained his driving licence before the law was changed.

    1 more example

    What is described as 'grandfather rights' has allowed older equipment to continue in operation where a financial case cannot be made to adopt new regulations. But such dispensations are inevitably time limited and ultimately a decision to replace or modify them must be made.

    2021 January 27, Industry Insider, “Surplus to requirements”, in RAIL, number 923, page 68
Cite this entry
APA

grandfather rights. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grandfather%20rights

MLA

“grandfather rights.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grandfather%20rights. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “grandfather rights,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grandfather%20rights.

Source: grandfather rights on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.