religious right

English

Noun

religious right (countable and uncountable, plural religious rights)

1. (uncountable, chiefly US) Right-wing, religious (especially Christian) political movements characterized by their support of socially conservative policies.

   However, many members of the religious right don't think prayer in public schools should be commonplace.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: The right for someone to practice their religion.

   The plaintiff argued he had a religious right to wear his headdress although it reduced the effectiveness of his hard hat which is required of all persons on site.

Coordinate terms

• (right to practice religion): civil rights, human right, freedom of belief, freedom of religion
• (political movements): Christian right, Hindu right, Jewish right, Muslim right

Further reading

• "religious right" in WordNet 3.1, Princeton University, 2011.
• Religious Right, encyclopedia.com
• Religious Right | The First Amendment Encyclopedia, mtsu.edu