rightful

adjective

right·​ful ˈrīt-fəl How to pronounce rightful (audio)
1
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 historyBrian Duff
rightfully adverb
rightfulness noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Let data prove what a shipment is so producers gain predictable offtake, governments capture rightful revenues, investors finance local processing with confidence, and communities see safer, more professional work. Anu Adedoyin Adasolum, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025 But Wimbledon fans formed a new club who are now back playing at their spiritual home at Plough Lane, and barring Chelsea, the others have — remarkably, in such a congested city — all found land to build new grounds within the boundaries of their rightful patch. Michael Cox, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 To create another parallel corridor where the world and everything in it are in their rightful places. Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025 Earlier this month, a video from a Philadelphia Phillies game went viral after two fans appeared to dispute who the rightful catcher of a home run ball was. Melina Khan, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rightful

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of rightful was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rightful. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

rightful

adjective
right·​ful ˈrīt-fəl How to pronounce rightful (audio)
1
2
: having a just or legal claim : legitimate
the rightful owner
rightfully adverb
rightfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rightful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!