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le·git·i·mate
li-ˈji-tə-mət 
1
a
: lawfully begotten
specifically
: born in wedlock
b
: having full filial rights and obligations by birth
5
: relating to plays acted by professional actors but not including revues, burlesque, or some forms of musical comedy
le·git·i·mate
li-ˈji-tə-ˌmāt
legitimated; legitimating
: 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
Synonyms
Example Sentences
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.
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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.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebJenn Mcmillen, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2023
Customers who doubt a call, in-person interaction, text, or email is legitimate should call Eversource directly to confirm the authenticity of the contact.
—Staff, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2023
Your reasons for wanting one (companionship, being forced to go outside) are legitimate, and are the same reasons many people choose dogs.
—Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 17 Jan. 2023
Your reasons for wanting one (companionship, being forced to go outside) are legitimate, and are the same reasons many people choose dogs.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2023
Your reasons for wanting one (companionship, being forced to go outside) are legitimate, and are the same reasons many people choose dogs.
—Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 17 Jan. 2023
The product is legitimate because it was made by licensed dietician and strength and conditioning specialist Jayson Hunter.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2023
Numerous recounts, reviews and forensic audits have confirmed the 2020 presidential election results are legitimate, as USA TODAY previously reported.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2023
The former engineering manager said some other ousted Twitter employees were able to confirm with what remains of Twitter’s HR department that the emails were legitimate.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2023
Mike Tuchen, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2023
Cy Young Award winner gives Rangers legitimate ace to front the rotation.
—Dallas News, 6 Dec. 2022
If the lockdown orders are lifted, and this transpires, Xi will no longer be able to legitimate his rule as superior to the decadence of the West.
—Bobby Miller, National Review, 2 Dec. 2022
And Hoover, having learned his lesson in 1920, worked hard to legitimate his wartime actions.
—Jack Goldsmith, The Atlantic, 22 Nov. 2022
Would any legitimate fraudster or mule do that and then report on themselves?
—CBS News, 23 Oct. 2022
Tennessee, however, has made the biggest and most difficult leap, going from the fringes of the Top 25 to legitimate national championship contender.
—Ralph D. Russo, Chicago Tribune, 19 Oct. 2022
Given this context, perhaps we Americans are envious that the British have something as historically sturdy as the divine right of kings to legitimate vast, hereditary, and permanent inequality and enshrine its maintenance as a civic virtue.
—Suzanne Schneider, The New Republic, 27 Sep. 2022
Frequent false positives exhaust security teams and may delay response to legitimate ransomware alerts.
—Etay Maor, Forbes, 1 July 2022
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Adjective
However, there’s one significant barrier – one-third of consumers worry the goods aren’t legitimate.
—Jenn Mcmillen, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2023
Customers who doubt a call, in-person interaction, text, or email is legitimate should call Eversource directly to confirm the authenticity of the contact.
—Staff, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2023
Your reasons for wanting one (companionship, being forced to go outside) are legitimate, and are the same reasons many people choose dogs.
—Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 17 Jan. 2023
Your reasons for wanting one (companionship, being forced to go outside) are legitimate, and are the same reasons many people choose dogs.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2023
Your reasons for wanting one (companionship, being forced to go outside) are legitimate, and are the same reasons many people choose dogs.
—Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 17 Jan. 2023
The product is legitimate because it was made by licensed dietician and strength and conditioning specialist Jayson Hunter.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Jan. 2023
Numerous recounts, reviews and forensic audits have confirmed the 2020 presidential election results are legitimate, as USA TODAY previously reported.
—Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2023
The former engineering manager said some other ousted Twitter employees were able to confirm with what remains of Twitter’s HR department that the emails were legitimate.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2023
Verb
The specific roles may vary based on the type of fraud being perpetrated, but the parallels to legitimate business are clear.
—Mike Tuchen, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2023
Cy Young Award winner gives Rangers legitimate ace to front the rotation.
—Dallas News, 6 Dec. 2022
If the lockdown orders are lifted, and this transpires, Xi will no longer be able to legitimate his rule as superior to the decadence of the West.
—Bobby Miller, National Review, 2 Dec. 2022
And Hoover, having learned his lesson in 1920, worked hard to legitimate his wartime actions.
—Jack Goldsmith, The Atlantic, 22 Nov. 2022
Would any legitimate fraudster or mule do that and then report on themselves?
—CBS News, 23 Oct. 2022
Tennessee, however, has made the biggest and most difficult leap, going from the fringes of the Top 25 to legitimate national championship contender.
—Ralph D. Russo, Chicago Tribune, 19 Oct. 2022
Given this context, perhaps we Americans are envious that the British have something as historically sturdy as the divine right of kings to legitimate vast, hereditary, and permanent inequality and enshrine its maintenance as a civic virtue.
—Suzanne Schneider, The New Republic, 27 Sep. 2022
Frequent false positives exhaust security teams and may delay response to legitimate ransomware alerts.
—Etay Maor, Forbes, 1 July 2022
See More
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.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Verb
Middle English legitimat, from Medieval Latin legitimatus, past participle of legitimare to legitimate, from Latin legitimus legitimate, from leg-, lex law
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of legitimate was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near legitimate
Cite this Entry
“Legitimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimate. Accessed 28 Jan. 2023.
Kids Definition
legitimate
2 of 2 verb
le·git·i·mate
li-ˈjit-ə-ˌmāt
legitimated; legitimating
: to make lawful or legal
Legal Definition
legitimate
1 of 2 adjective
le·git·i·mate
lə-ˈji-tə-mət
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
legitimately
adverb
legitimate
2 of 2 transitive verb
le·git·i·mate
lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmāt
legitimated; legitimating
: to make legitimate: as
a
: to give legal status or authorization to
b
: to show or affirm to be justified or have merit
c
: to put (an illegitimate child) in the state of a child born of married parents before the law by legal means compare filiate
More from Merriam-Webster on legitimate
Nglish: Translation of legitimate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of legitimate for Arabic Speakers
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