rightful
Americanadjective
-
having a valid or just claim, as to some property or position; legitimate.
the rightful owner of the farm.
-
belonging or held by a valid or just claim.
one's rightful property.
-
equitable or just, as actions or a cause.
adjective
-
in accordance with what is right; proper or just
-
(prenominal) having a legally or morally just claim
the rightful owner
-
(prenominal) held by virtue of a legal or just claim
my rightful property
Other Word Forms
- rightfully adverb
- rightfulness noun
- unrightful adjective
- unrightfully adverb
- unrightfulness noun
Etymology
Origin of rightful
First recorded before 1150; Middle English; late Old English rihtful; right (noun), -ful
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
More gnomes were emerging from their holes in the ground, eager to gather messages and deliver them to the rightful recipients.
From Literature
It’s about time that cabbage deserves its rightful spotlight.
From Salon
Glory wrestled the shoe back and, holding it by the tips of her fingers, returned it to its rightful owner.
From Literature
Some wagers have led to disputes over which side is the rightful winner.
“We could see that she was being misrepresented and denied her rightful place in history.”
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
