rightful
adjective
having a valid or just claim, as to some property or position; legitimate.
rightfully
-
a word derived from
rightful.
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.
This leaves disgruntled adult children weighing what to do to reclaim money they feel is rightfully theirs.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
"The Democratic Republic of the Congo's mineral wealth rightfully belongs to the Congolese people."
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
Watching a capybara come when called is a highly Instagrammable moment, my in-person proof that capybaras have rightfully earned their status as a 2020s internet meme.
From Slate ● May 27, 2026
Shoemaker’s career rightfully was topped off by that Derby victory, as well as his win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 1987.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2026
At the same time, the German dictator built up a huge military and started hacking out what he called a “Greater Germany,” a massive European empire that Hitler insisted rightfully belonged to Germans.
From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin
