grandfather rights

English

Noun

grandfather rights pl (normally plural, singular grandfather right)

1. 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.

   • 2021 January 27, Industry Insider, “Surplus to requirements”, in RAIL, number 923, page 68:

     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.

References

• “grandfather rights”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.