by rights

1. Justly, in fairness, as in By rights he should have been chosen first. Originally put as by right, this term was first recorded about 1315.

Example Sentences

The group cited a report released in May by rights group Amnesty International, which said that at least 10,217 people had been killed since President Bola Tinubu took office two years ago.

From BBC

Despite all that effort, everyone at the base that day knew that the multinational air bridge to Gaza was a wildly inefficient solution to a problem that by rights should never have existed.

From Los Angeles Times

But we all know, by rights, Doris' house belongs to Nessa.

From BBC

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's government has been accused by rights groups of becoming increasingly repressive in the run-up to October's presidential and parliamentary elections.

From BBC

The Venezuelan government argues that it has no political prisoners - a claim rejected by rights groups.

From BBC