rightful

adjective

right·​ful ˈrīt-fəl 

1

: just, equitable

2

a

: having a just or legally established claim : legitimate

the rightful owner

b

: held by right or just claim : legal

rightful authority

3

: proper, fitting

assured of his rightful place in history

—Brian Duff

rightfully

ˈrīt-fə-lē 

adverb

rightfulness noun

Synonyms

• competent
• condign
• deserved
• due
• fair
• just
• justified
• merited
• right
• warranted

Examples of rightful in a Sentence

The property should be returned to its rightful owner.

He will be given his rightful place in the history books.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is a shift away from the 2023 presidential decree that named the Oba of Benin, the traditional ruler of the Edo people, as their rightful owner and custodian. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 26 Feb. 2025

Nasr restores the war to its rightful place as the defining event of post-revolutionary Iran. —Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025

Editors’ Picks In 2018, the New York Supreme Court ruled that Grünbaum never sold or voluntarily relinquished any works before his death and that the heirs were the rightful owners of two Schiele drawings in the collection of the art dealer Richard Nagy. —Catherine Hickley, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

Sure enough, within minutes, the rightful seat owner arrived. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rightful

• frightful
• spiteful
• delightful
• insightful

Kids Definition

rightful

adjective

right·​ful ˈrīt-fəl 

1

: just entry 1 sense 2a

2

: having a just or legal claim : legitimate

the rightful owner

rightfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

rightfulness noun