rightfulness

7.1

Being morally and legally correct and fair

noun
/ˈraɪt.fəl.nəs/

: justicia

Morality is best understood in a relational way, namely as a matter of making claims on each other and assessing the validity and rightfulness of those claims.

Examples

Though doubt can be cast on the truthfulness of both diplomats' words, what is significant is the proximity of Niles' advocacy of intervention and his account of his interview with Pareto, because the content of the latter casts an aura of rightfulness over actions aimed at imposing the political and commercial presence of the United States on Europe.

Academic text (2001)
No organization that denies the rightfulness of these things will be seen as a "legitimate" organization.

Blog text (26)
Guido leaves the devil tightly restricted to his natural limitations, where any sign of reverence is at best idolatrous and at worst a heretical belief in the rightfulness of the one creature who irredeemably lacks it.

Academic text (2007)
The rightfulness of her actions was evident to everyone in the meeting.
They debated the rightfulness of the law during the town hall discussion.
Many believe in the rightfulness of fighting for justice and equality.

Synonyms

justice

vsrightfulness

∞ 2.5

Fair treatment of people and the courts that decide it

is the personal quality of moral or legal correctness

fairness

vsrightfulness

236 1.9

Treating people equally and without bias

adds legal and moral correctness beyond simple equal treatment

right

vsrightfulness

161 3.0

A state of being just or fair

emphasizes the quality of moral and legal conformity itself

righteousness

vsrightfulness

83 6.5

Being good and fair in how you act

includes legal conformity as well as moral correctness

equity

vsrightfulness

Formal

46 5.3

Fair and equal treatment of people, for example at work or school

is about personal moral and legal conformity rather than system fairness

rightness

vsrightfulness

6 5.1

A state of being morally good and fair in actions

stresses both moral and legal conformity together

rectitude

vsrightfulness

Formal

6 8.8

Being honest and doing what is right

broads to include formal legal correctness as well

uprightness

vsrightfulness

1 5.6

Being honest and doing the right thing

adds formal legal and correctness aspects to personal honesty

justness

vsrightfulness

1 5.7

A state of being fair and morally right

extends this to legal conformity and general correctness

virtuousness

vsrightfulness

1 6.9

Being honest and doing what is right

also covers conformity to law and formal correctness

equitableness

vsrightfulness

Formal

7.4

Fair and equal treatment of people when making decisions

adds legal conformity and formal correctness beyond impartiality

equitability

vsrightfulness

Formal

7.2

Being fair and not taking sides

includes broader moral and legal correctness concerns

justifiability

vsrightfulness

7.6

How reasonable something looks when someone explains or defends it

refers to the actual moral or legal correctness rather than provability

Antonyms

wrongfulness

Formal

1 7.4

Something that is not right according to law or morals

How Just

righteousness

83 6.5

justness

1 5.7

rightfulness

7.1

unjustness

6.0

wrongfulness

Formal

1 7.4

Surface Forms

rightfulness singular

rightfulnesses plural

Morphology

rightfulness = rightful (transparent) = right + ful + ness

Built from 'right' -> 'rightful' -> 'rightfulness'; the meaning 'quality of being morally or legally right' follows directly from these parts.

Etymology

Rightfulness comes from right meaning 'correct' or 'just', plus -ful which means 'full of' and -ness which means 'quality of'. So, rightfulness is the quality of being 'right' or fair.