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 In King’s Landing, young King Aegon is doubling down on his claim to the Iron Throne, which his half-sister Rhaenyra views as her rightful inheritance from their late father. Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024 Two other gatherings popped up in its place, as backers of former chair Kristina Karamo – who still claims to be the rightful Michigan GOP party leader – met after being refused credentials to the Grand Rapids convention for missing the registration deadline. USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 With the current incarnation of the Avatar yet to emerge, the world has loses hope until Aang (Gordon Cormier), a young airbender, reawakens to take his rightful place. Selome Hailu, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 But like a light in the darkness, hope springs forth when Aang (Cormier), a young Air Nomad — and the last of his kind — reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 And while the Republican National Committee has said Karamo was properly removed from the post and has proclaimed Hoekstra the rightful chair, there isn’t 100% clarity on whose convention will count. Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024 This survivorship bias results in rightful celebrations of embryos who progress successfully to birth but neglects their brothers and sisters, the plight of close to 1 million human beings stuck on ice awaiting destruction, experimentation, or (in rare cases) adoption. The Editors, National Review, 23 Feb. 2024 But any overt attempt to dismiss her as the rightful heir to the nomination in this scenario would infuriate her supporters and possibly alienate a significant part of the Democratic base: Black voters. Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2024 And after sinking over a decade into the book, her mission continues, not only for a deeper understanding of Senegal’s photographic past, but its rightful place in history. Thomas Page, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rightful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near rightful

Cite this Entry

“Rightful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rightful. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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