rightful
Americanadjective
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having a valid or just claim, as to some property or position; legitimate.
the rightful owner of the farm.
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belonging or held by a valid or just claim.
one's rightful property.
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equitable or just, as actions or a cause.
adjective
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in accordance with what is right; proper or just
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(prenominal) having a legally or morally just claim
the rightful owner
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(prenominal) held by virtue of a legal or just claim
my rightful property
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rightful
First recorded before 1150; Middle English; late Old English rihtful; see right (noun), -ful
Explanation
Something that's rightful is deserved or legitimate. If you accidentally grab someone else's coat when you leave school, you'll have to bring it back and return it to its rightful owner. You'll frequently find rightful describing the word owner: "Police were quickly able to return the puppy to its rightful owner after the hoodlum grabbed it from the back yard." Anything or anyone with a legal right to something is considered rightful, so a newly elected U.S. president takes their rightful place as leader of the country as soon as they're sworn in.
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.
Karen now hopes her model of Union Corner will find its rightful place as she looks to sell it.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
Graham may have finally assumed her rightful place in the newspaper-movie canon, but we’re still left to ponder her absence from the most iconic journalism movie of the 20th century.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
If the money originally came from a compromised account, the rightful owner will eventually flag the transaction as fraudulent.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026
It draws on core Shiite themes of martyrdom and resistance, reinforcing the image of the younger Khamenei as the rightful successor to lead the Islamic Republic.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026
His memory was short; already human beings were back on their rightful pedestals, cornucopias of dog food in their hands.
From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford
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.
