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

For many years, NASCAR’s ‘Golden Boy’ was also its gold standard, a fact that eventually led him to the sport’s pinnacle, a rightful place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. —Bruce Martin, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Every piece of mail, document, invitation, receipt, and other paper stops here before eventually getting sorted into its rightful place. —Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2024

Former Mets captain David Wright will be honored this summer in a dual ceremony, taking his rightful place in franchise history. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 Dec. 2024

India believes that that experience cost it wealth and status, and New Delhi is now determined both to avoid domination by another imperialist power and to receive its rightful due in the world. —Manjari Chatterjee Miller, Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

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