Main Entry:

¹le·git·i·mate

Pronunciation:

\li-ˈji-tə-mət\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English legitimat, from Medieval Latin legitimatus, past participle of legitimare to legitimate, from Latin legitimus legitimate, from leg-, lex law

Date:

15th century

1 a: lawfully begotten ; specifically : born in wedlock b: having full filial rights and obligations by birth <a legitimate child>2: being exactly as purposed : neither spurious nor false <a legitimate grievance> <a legitimate practitioner>3 a: accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements <a legitimate government> b: ruling by or based on the strict principle of hereditary right <a legitimate king>4: conforming to recognized principles or accepted rules and standards <a legitimate advertising expenditure> <a legitimate inference>5: relating to plays acted by professional actors but not including revues, burlesque, or some forms of musical comedy <the legitimate theater>

synonyms see lawful

— le·git·i·mate·ly adverb