legitimate

adjective

le·git·i·mate | \ li-ˈji-tə-mət

Definition of legitimate

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

3a : 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

legitimate

verb

le·git·i·mate | \ li-ˈji-tə-ˌmāt

legitimated; legitimating

Definition of legitimate (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to make (someone or something) legitimate (see legitimate entry 1):

a(1) : to give legal status or authorization to

(2) : to show or affirm to be justified

(3) : to lend authority or respectability to

b : to give (a child born out of wedlock) the same legal status as a child born in wedlock

Other Words from legitimate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about legitimate

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Other Words from legitimate

Adjective

legitimately adverb

Verb

legitimation \ li-ˌji-tə-ˈmā-shən

\ noun

legitimator \ li-ˈji-tə-ˌmā-tər

\ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for legitimate

Synonyms: Adjective

lawful, legal, legit [slang], licit

Antonyms: Adjective

illegal, illegitimate, illicit, lawless, unlawful, wrongful

Choose the Right Synonym for legitimate

Adjective

lawful, legal, legitimate, licit mean being in accordance with law. lawful may apply to conformity with law of any sort (such as natural, divine, common, or canon). the lawful sovereign legal applies to what is sanctioned by law or in conformity with the law, especially as it is written or administered by the courts. legal residents of the state legitimate may apply to a legal right or status but also, in extended use, to a right or status supported by tradition, custom, or accepted standards. a perfectly legitimate question about taxes licit applies to a strict conformity to the provisions of the law and applies especially to what is regulated by law. the licit use of drugs by doctors

Examples of legitimate in a Sentence

Adjective

Law books were getting thicker by the week with Supreme Court decisions barring legitimate claims because they weren't timely filed. — John Grisham, The Chamber, 1995 Even in many courtrooms, where there is valid concern about the privacy of defendants, judges recognize that camera coverage serves a legitimate public interest. — New Republic, 22 Feb. 1993 He was indeed already a legitimate child according to the law of Scotland, by the subsequent marriage of his parents. — Sir Walter Scott, The Heart of Mid-Lothian, 1818 legitimate means for achieving success the legitimate use of firearms There's no legitimate reason for prescribing this medication to a child.

Verb

Which comes first, the desire to legitimate euthanasia or the nullifying of a distinction between killing and allowing to die? — Daniel Callahan, Commonweal, 2 June 2000 Poland has ceased being a nation with even a pretense of Communist rule, a rule that is legitimated by Marxist ideology. — Irving Kristol, Wall Street Journal, 11 Jan. 1982 … they are more concerned with the ways in which schools and colleges legitimate and maintain inequality than with the ways they devalue and restrict personal autonomy. — Christopher Jencks, New York Times Book Review, 15 Feb. 1976 slang words legitimated by usage Her tendency to be secretive only serves to legitimate their suspicions.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The reality star isn't attending formal law school but rather completing a four-year apprenticeship at a San Francisco firm, which is actually a legitimate alternative to traditional education in California. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "Kim Kardashian Just Hit Back at Everyone Who’s Shading Her for Becoming a Lawyer," 15 Apr. 2019 Democrats calling out Trump’s penchant for making up fake charges of fraud won’t be enough to convince Republican voters that the election is legitimate. — Zack Beauchamp, Vox, "The Republican Party versus democracy," 17 Dec. 2018 When some employees get the benefit of policy enforcement flexibility while others do not, employers must be prepared to demonstrate a legitimate, non-discriminatory basis for that difference in treatment. — Anchorage Daily News, "My employee is constantly on her cellphone at work. How can I rein her in without looking unfair?," 9 July 2018 But there are opportunities for bad actors to exploit the halo created by quality work of legitimate manufacturers to instead distribute and sell dangerous products that put consumers at risk. — Korin Miller, SELF, "The FDA Will Finally Crack Down on Dietary Supplements—Here's What Experts Have to Say," 11 Feb. 2019 Jones is a legitimate deep threat with 20 catches of 20-plus yards last season (tied for fifth-most in the NFL), and his big-play ability was a big reason the Lions ranked seventh in scoring offense. — Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Lions 2018 most important: No. 10 Marvin Jones big-play threat," 8 July 2018 Courtesy Sarah Gad Like so many others, my opioid addiction began with a legitimate prescription for pain medication. — Sarah Gad, Marie Claire, "My Drug Overdose Saved My Life. Now I'm Saving Others.," 15 Mar. 2019 Orange County sheriff’s spokeswoman Carrie Braun said the credentials were not legitimate but the pilot was indeed Pastini. — John Antczak, The Seattle Times, "Police: Pilot in fatal California crash had fake records," 6 Feb. 2019 Don helped invest the profits in legitimate businesses. — Will Higgins, Indianapolis Star, "Some sold weed, one robbed a bank, one cut a girlfriend: Race drivers who went to prison," 22 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

In other instances, however, China uses international institutions to legitimate its own interests. — Elizabeth Economy, WSJ, "Xi Jinping’s Superpower Plans," 19 July 2018 The coupon follows similar format to legitimate Kroger coupons, with an expiration date of August 30 and a barcode. — Holly Shively, ajc, "$250 Kroger coupon circulating on social media a fake; company warns don’t click on it," 9 July 2018 The Tigers impressive week to them from on the bubble of even making the tournament to legitimate contention for a No. 2 seed. — Brody Miller, NOLA.com, "LSU's SEC Tournament run ends in championship loss to Ole Miss," 27 May 2018 Now, as the technology expands from a fringe hacker toy to legitimate business applications, opportunists have flooded the field. — Erin Griffith, WIRED, "187 Things the Blockchain Is Supposed to Fix," 25 May 2018 At the moment, the pressing issue is how the Padres propose to jump from non-factor to legitimate contender. — Dennis Lin, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres extend A.J. Preller through 2022," 3 Dec. 2017 By legitimating ethno-national passions, intellectuals created and unleashed them. — William A. Galston, WSJ, "Macron’s Democratic Vision," 24 Apr. 2018 The North Korean ruler will get an early bonus just by meeting as an equal with Mr. Trump, which legitimates Mr. Kim’s rule. — Robert B. Zoellick, WSJ, "10 Tips for Negotiating With Kim Jong Un," 27 Mar. 2018 Perhaps there should be apologies and reparative action from the publishers that printed, promoted, circulated, and profited from materials that served to legitimate Jim Crow and racist domestic terrorism. — Alfred Brophy, Fortune, "Commentary: Why Haven’t Publishers Apologized for Their Books That Glorify Slavery?," 2 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'legitimate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

18 Apr 2019

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Time Traveler for legitimate

The first known use of legitimate was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for legitimate

legitimate

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of legitimate

(Entry 1 of 2)

: allowed according to rules or laws

: real, accepted, or official

: fair or reasonable

legitimate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of legitimate (Entry 2 of 2)

: to make (something) real, accepted, or official

: to show that (something or someone) is fair or reasonable

See the full definition for legitimate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

legitimate

adjective

le·git·i·mate | \ li-ˈji-tə-mət

Kids Definition of legitimate

1 : accepted by the law as rightful : lawful a legitimate heir

2 : being right or acceptable a legitimate excuse

legitimate

adjective

le·git·i·mate | \ lə-ˈji-tə-mət

Legal Definition of legitimate

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : conceived or born of parents lawfully married to each other or having been made through legal procedure equal in status to one so conceived or born also : having rights and obligations under the law as the child of such birth

2 : being neither spurious nor false a legitimate grievance

3 : being in accordance with law or with established legal forms and requirements a legitimate government

4 : conforming to recognized principles or accepted rules and standards a legitimate claim of entitlement a legitimate business reason