legitimately
adverb
le·git·i·mate·ly
li-ˈji-tə-mət-lē 
: in a legitimate manner : according to what is lawful, permitted, appropriate, or reasonable
money earned legitimately [=legally]
a question that can be legitimately asked
… objects of ritual significance that were common tribal property seldom if ever could have come legitimately into nontribal hands.—
Robert McC. Adams
Robert McC. AdamsThe other kind of steroids are the potent inflammation fighters widely and legitimately used to treat dozens of illnesses.—Paul G. Donohue
Paul G. Donohue… several objections to their book can legitimately be raised.—Christopher Lehmann-Haupt
Christopher Lehmann-HauptExamples of legitimately in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Such reports are legitimately alarming but with further context might also be moot; although the ability to do so has recently been limited, for a long time, China (or anyone else for that matter) could purchase such personal information from data brokers.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2024
The opening credits are legitimately inventive, maybe the best part of the film, although in the climax each Kiss member fights his own evil clone (which is a fine allegory for those solo albums).
—Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 23 Apr. 2024
In the case of a student threatening to physically harm someone, whether it is spoken, written or gestured, the Arizona Department of Education encourages schools to have a threat assessment protocol and build a team to determine whether the student legitimately poses a threat of violence.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Others were issued legitimately, but their owners have kept them long past their expiration date to avoid paying the fees and taxes that permanent plates require.
—Michael Corkery, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
In the wake of the 2020 presidential contest, pro-Donald Trump outlets spread lies wrongfully suggesting President Joe Biden had not been legitimately elected president.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
In a legitimately shocking turn of events, Gerry Turner, the inaugural Golden Bachelor, and his wife, Theresa Nist, are divorcing just three months after getting married on national television.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2024
Chinese companies have adopted the practice of licensing and remaking Korean films and TV shows in order to play down the origins of the story and to be able to legitimately claim that their titles now have Chinese nationality.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
Owen revives Doug and tells him that his sister is a legitimately gifted doctor and Doug should find another line of work.
—Lincee Ray, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2024
The opening credits are legitimately inventive, maybe the best part of the film, although in the climax each Kiss member fights his own evil clone (which is a fine allegory for those solo albums).
—Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 23 Apr. 2024
In the case of a student threatening to physically harm someone, whether it is spoken, written or gestured, the Arizona Department of Education encourages schools to have a threat assessment protocol and build a team to determine whether the student legitimately poses a threat of violence.
—The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Others were issued legitimately, but their owners have kept them long past their expiration date to avoid paying the fees and taxes that permanent plates require.
—Michael Corkery, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
In the wake of the 2020 presidential contest, pro-Donald Trump outlets spread lies wrongfully suggesting President Joe Biden had not been legitimately elected president.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
In a legitimately shocking turn of events, Gerry Turner, the inaugural Golden Bachelor, and his wife, Theresa Nist, are divorcing just three months after getting married on national television.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2024
Chinese companies have adopted the practice of licensing and remaking Korean films and TV shows in order to play down the origins of the story and to be able to legitimately claim that their titles now have Chinese nationality.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 11 Apr. 2024
Owen revives Doug and tells him that his sister is a legitimately gifted doctor and Doug should find another line of work.
—Lincee Ray, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legitimately.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near legitimately
Cite this Entry
“Legitimately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimately. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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