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
Even though there was some absurd stuff on the show, people did legitimately do things that were outrageous back then.
—Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Some might view that as a good thing, given that the Broncos had a legitimately top-tier rushing attack before Dobbins suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in Week 10.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
The Big 12 cannot legitimately claim supremacy over the Big Ten.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Instead of using the money to provide hospice care for legitimately dying patients, Davis alleged, the suspects used it for international travel, to pay mortgages and car loans and to send money overseas.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimately
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Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Some might view that as a good thing, given that the Broncos had a legitimately top-tier rushing attack before Dobbins suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in Week 10.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
The Big 12 cannot legitimately claim supremacy over the Big Ten.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Instead of using the money to provide hospice care for legitimately dying patients, Davis alleged, the suspects used it for international travel, to pay mortgages and car loans and to send money overseas.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimately
Cite this Entry
“Legitimately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimately. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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