rightful

/'raitful/

Thân thiện

The rightful owner receives the keys to the house.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Having a just or legal claim; legitimate: Refers to something or someone that is entitled to a position, status, or property by law, morality, or justice. 2. Conforming to what is right or just; proper: Describes an action, behavior, or situation that is correct, fair, or appropriate.

Usage and Examples

• Describing a legal or moral claim:
  • She is the rightful owner of the estate. (She has the legal claim to own it.)
  • The protesters demanded the rightful restoration of their lands. (They demanded the just return of what belongs to them.)
• Describing what is proper or just:
  • He received his rightful punishment for the crime. (He received the punishment that was just and deserved.)
  • After years of hard work, she finally took her rightful place as CEO. (She assumed the position she rightly deserved.)

Advanced Usage

• "rightful heir": The person who is legally entitled to inherit property, a title, or a position.
  • The king's eldest son is the rightful heir to the throne.
• "rightful place/position": The status or role that someone or something deserves to have.
  • This discovery secured the theory's rightful place in scientific history.

Variants and Related Words

• Rightfully (adverb): In accordance with what is right or just; legally or morally entitled.
  • The property was rightfully returned to its original owner.
• Rightfulness (noun): The quality or state of being rightful.
  • No one could dispute the rightfulness of her claim.

Synonyms

• Legitimate: Conforming to the law or to rules; valid.
• Lawful: Conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law.
• Just: Based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair.
• Proper: Truly what something is said to be; genuine. Also, correct according to social or moral rules.

Antonyms

• Wrongful: Not in accordance with what is right or legal; unjust.
• Illegitimate: Not authorized by the law; not in accordance with accepted standards.
• Unlawful: Not conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To come into one's own rightful inheritance: To finally receive the property or status one is legally entitled to.
  • Upon turning 25, he came into his own rightful inheritance.
• To claim one's rightful due: To demand what one deserves or is owed.
  • The workers went on strike to claim their rightful due.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having a legally established claim
   • the legitimate heir
   • the true and lawful king
2. legally valid
   • a rightful inheritance

Từ đồng nghĩa

• true
• lawful
• rightful