(the right of) first refusal
idiom
: the right to have the first choice to buy something on the same terms as offered to someone else
Examples of (the right of) first refusal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This spring, President Sauli Niinistö (no relation to Jussi Niinistö) proposed passing a bill that would give the government the right to approve sales in sensitive areas on a case-by-case basis, and former Defense Minister Carl Haglund advocated for a government right of first refusal.
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Elisabeth Braw, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2015
What does the law do? Broadly, the new law gives tenants a right of first refusal on whether to renew their lease or not.
—Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2024
The proposal would have established a right of first refusal for utilities already doing business in Wisconsin, allowing the owners of transmission lines to build lines that connect to their existing ones without having to compete with out-of-state companies for the projects.
—Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024
When an offer is submitted for a restricted free agent, the player’s current team can match the offer with right of first refusal.
—Thomas Schlachter, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for (the right of) first refusal 
Elisabeth Braw, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2015
What does the law do? Broadly, the new law gives tenants a right of first refusal on whether to renew their lease or not.
—Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2024
The proposal would have established a right of first refusal for utilities already doing business in Wisconsin, allowing the owners of transmission lines to build lines that connect to their existing ones without having to compete with out-of-state companies for the projects.
—Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024
When an offer is submitted for a restricted free agent, the player’s current team can match the offer with right of first refusal.
—Thomas Schlachter, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for (the right of) first refusal
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word '(the right of) first refusal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“(the right of) first refusal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/%28the%20right%20of%29%20first%20refusal. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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