rightful

adjective

right·​ful ˈrīt-fəl How to pronounce rightful (audio)
Synonyms of rightfulnext
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 history …Brian 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.
Addressing a crowd of at least 100,000 on Budapest's Heroes' Square, Magyar charged Orbán's government with turning Hungarians against one another through propaganda and divisive policies, and of steering the country away from its rightful place among Western democracies. Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026 McLendon-Covey did not take her rightful place alongside Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper and Maya Rudolph when the Bridesmaids cast reunited on the Oscar stage to present the Best Score and Best Sound award. Greg Evans, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026 There has been plenty of rightful crowing about the quagmire that is college athletics, most of it directly traceable to the money – the death of senior night, overrecruiting, tampering, transferring and what can only be described as a nearly uncrossable chasm between the haves and have nots. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026 Neighbors and volunteers have stepped forward to help remove the tires and restore the cemetery to its rightful state. Nakell Williams, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026 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 Mar. 2026.

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
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