legit

adjective

le·​git li-ˈjit 

informal

: legitimate: such as

a

: accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements

a legit business

Nolan, a retired thief, is 50-ish and legit now, owner of a successful shopping-mall restaurant …

—Publishers Weekly

Set in Las Vegas in the '70s and '80s, "Casino" shows a mob man … trying to go legit while running a casino, but being dragged back into bloody conflict by a ruthless colleague …

—Bruce Westbrook

b

: being exactly as intended or presented : not spurious or false

The offer is legit.

"So, I double-checked the e-mail address, which looked legit, and I called the guy, and he seemed legit."

—Robert Kuttner

also : being an actual example of something specified

Phone addiction is a legit threat on the roads …

—Cam Fuller

But Betty … even goes out of her way to hurt Veronica by trying to strike up a new friendship with Cheryl Blossom. Cheryl is a legit psycho though and a total creep, so that doesn't last long.

—Benjamin Bailey

c

: genuinely good, impressive, or capable of success

They have a legit shot at winning the championship.

"She had this bad habit of making all her shots," said Washington coach Phil Chase. "Let's face it. She's legit."

—USA Today

For all the crap Killington takes, it's still one huge place with plenty of legit terrain and good skiers.

—Skiing

d

: conforming to recognized principles or accepted rules and standards

He has a legit claim to a rematch.

also : fair or reasonable : valid

a legit question/concern

There's an upside to your discomfort: It's a legit excuse to get a weekly massage.

—Richard Lalibert

Synonyms of legit

• legitimate
• legal

Examples of legit in a Sentence

What she's doing is perfectly legit.

All I want is a legit chance to succeed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Forbes lists are largely a status symbol for the 1%, but as the business publication has expanded its purview — and as the music business has grown legit billionaires — its lists and criteria have grown. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 4 June 2026

Stenberg and Björck have deservedly held the spotlight for the Swedes in this class, but Hermansson is one of several other legit prospects for Tre Kronor this year and impressed at U17 worlds and Hlinka. —Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 3 June 2026

Some reading this may call it NIMBY-ism (Not In My Back Yard), even if the residents have some legit concerns. —Elizabeth Keifer, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026

There is a legit reason for that. —Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above