• In the Catholic church, the archbishops of Glasgow and Edinburgh are equal in rank, but, by rights, O'Brien is the senior partner because he has been in position for 17 years, and is the chair of the Catholic bishops' conference of Scotland.
• And, by rights, I should marry her if she'd have me, but I am still a bit dubious.
• Fields have been flooded throughout Tayside at a time when, by rights, they should have been full of combines.

Synonyms