rightful

rightful — 形容詞

1. describes a position, claim, or status that a person has a moral or legal right

1.形容詞B2
釋義

合法；正當

道德或法律上應得的

describes a position, claim, or status that a person has a moral or legal right to hold or receive — for example, being the person who should own something, inherit something, or occupy a role based on justice or law.

例句

The antique vase was returned to its rightful owner, a museum in Kyoto.

這件古董花瓶被歸還給了它的合法擁有者——京都的一家博物館。

collocation: rightful owner

Tanvi argued in court that she was the rightful heir to the estate.

Tanvi 在法庭上主張她是該遺產的合法繼承人。

collocation: rightful heir

同義詞
  • legitimate

    more formal; focuses on legal validity or accepted standards (a legitimate business claim)

  • lawful

    strictly about compliance with written law; less moral nuance (lawful owner)

  • just

    broader moral fairness; less tied to specific legal title (a just outcome)

  • due

    focuses on what is owed or merited based on effort or circumstance (due reward)

反義詞

文法句型

rightful + noun

用法筆記

Attributive use only — placed directly before the noun it modifies (the rightful owner, the rightful heir). Not used after a linking verb; you cannot say 'the owner is rightful.'

常見錯誤

❌The heir is rightful to the throne.
✅He is the rightful heir to the throne.
💡rightful must appear before the noun it modifies; it does not work as a predicate adjective.
❌She is the right owner of the house.
✅She is the rightful owner of the house.
💡right means 'correct' in a factual sense, while rightful emphasises moral or legal entitlement.