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
This is legitimately presenting all the reasons why.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
The Thunder legitimately may win 70 games.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025
The ones that legitimately worked.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 26 Nov. 2025
The Patriots, who have rolled through most of this season as a legitimately good team, were lucky to escape Cincinnati with their ninth straight win Sunday.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimately
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Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
The Thunder legitimately may win 70 games.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025
The ones that legitimately worked.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 26 Nov. 2025
The Patriots, who have rolled through most of this season as a legitimately good team, were lucky to escape Cincinnati with their ninth straight win Sunday.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimately
Cite this Entry
“Legitimately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimately. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
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