# rightful

/ˈɹaɪtfəɫ/ (US) · /ɹˈaɪtfəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rightful
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

describing something that belongs to a person because it is fair, legal, or honest.

For teachers: having a legitimate, legal, or moral claim to a position, property, or status. Often used to describe a return to a correct or original state.

## Examples

- The stolen painting was finally returned to its rightful owner.
- After years of legal battles, the court decided she was the rightful heir to the family estate.
- The restoration of the monarch was seen by many as a return to the rightful order of the state after a decade of political chaos.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is the rightly owner" but "He is the rightful owner" — Learners often confuse the adverb 'rightly' with the adjective 'rightful' when modifying a noun.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun like 'owner', 'place', or 'heir'.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.