might makes right

/ˈmaɪ̯t meɪ̯ks ˈɹaɪ̯t/[ˈmaɪ̯t me̞ɪ̯ks ˈɹaɪ̯t]

proverb

What is right or wrong is determined by power and strength; power justifies itself.

OriginMiddle English might is right →
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Meanings

proverb

alternative might is right

  1. What is right or wrong is determined by power and strength; power justifies itself.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishmight is right
  2. Englishmight makes right

Inherited from Middle English might is right, first attested in the 14th century. The concept is expressed by various classical authors; a similar argument is notably attributed to Thrasymachus by Plato in the Republic 340a (in Paul Shorey’s translation, “the advantage of the stronger is just”).

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 成王敗寇 /成王败寇, 成者為王，敗者為寇 /成者为王
  • 成王敗寇 /成王败寇 (chéngwángbàikòu)morality cannot question the powerful
  • 成者為王，敗者為寇 /成者为王morality cannot question the powerful
  • 败者为寇 (chéng zhě wéi wáng, bài zhě wéi kòu)morality cannot question the powerful
  • 强權即公理 (qiángquán jí gōnglǐ)morality cannot question the powerful
Finnish vahvin määrää
  • vahvin määräämorality cannot question the powerful
French la raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure
  • la raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleuremorality cannot question the powerful
Hindi जिसकी लाठी उसकी भैंस
  • जिसकी लाठी उसकी भैंस (jiskī lāṭhī uskī bhains)morality cannot question the powerful
Italian la ragione sta dalla parte dei forti
  • la ragione sta dalla parte dei fortimorality cannot question the powerful
Japanese 勝てば官軍負ければ賊軍
  • 勝てば官軍負ければ賊軍 (kateba kangun, makereba zokugun)morality cannot question the powerful
Polish but see kto bogatemu zabroni
  • but see kto bogatemu zabronimorality cannot question the powerful
Portuguese manda quem pode, obedece quem tem juízo
  • manda quem pode, obedece quem tem juízomorality cannot question the powerful
Russian кто сильнее, тот и прав
  • кто сильнее, тот и прав (kto silʹneje, tot i prav)morality cannot question the powerful
Spanish la fuerza hace el derecho
  • la fuerza hace el derechomorality cannot question the powerful
Turkish güçlü haklıdır, güçlü olan haklıdır
  • güçlü haklıdırmorality cannot question the powerful
  • güçlü olan haklıdırmorality cannot question the powerful
Vietnamese thắng làm vua, thua làm giặc, mạnh được yếu thua
  • thắng làm vua, thua làm giặcmorality cannot question the powerful
  • mạnh được yếu thuamorality cannot question the powerful

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with might makes right

sitecopyrightrightnightlightwritemightquiteflightfightheightdespitetonightbrightsightovernightwrightknightinvitelitebyteslightfinitecite
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

might makes right. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/might%20makes%20right

MLA

“might makes right.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/might%20makes%20right. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “might makes right,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/might%20makes%20right.

Source: might makes right on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.