If someone has first refusal on something that is being sold or offered, they have the right to decide whether or not to buy it or take it before it is offered to anyone else.
The agreement gives the two co-chairmen first refusal on each other's shares.
A tenant may have a right of first refusal if a property is offered for sale.
Synonyms: option, choice, opportunity, consideration More Synonyms of first refusal
See full dictionary entry for refusal
first refusal in British English
noun
the chance of buying a house, merchandise, etc, before the offer is made to other potential buyers
Examples of 'first refusal' in a sentence
first refusal
Hammers will have first refusal on making the moves permanent at the end of the season.
The Sun (2009)
According to the proposals, due to come into force next year, the first refusal will mean no benefits for three months.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
(idiom)
Definition
the opportunity to reject or accept
A tenant may have a right of first refusal if a property is offered for sale.
Synonyms
option
He was jailed for thirty days without the option of a fine.
choice
If I had any choice in the matter, I wouldn't have gone.
opportunity
consideration
See refusal
Additional synonyms
in the sense of choice
Definition
an alternative action or possibility
If I had any choice in the matter, I wouldn't have gone.