legitimize
verb
le·git·i·mize
li-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz 
legitimized; legitimizing
: to make legitimate : legitimate
Examples of legitimize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What began as a mechanism to legitimize leadership became the rebirth of a nation's confidence in itself.
—
Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Ashley continues to embarrass herself by trying to find ways to legitimize her sustained issue with Stacey on-camera.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025
This is very similar to where senior housing or medical offices were before they became recognized as institutional real estate sectors, according to Fortec, which is looking to legitimize the subsector with its new fund.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2025
The plan would effectively legitimize Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk and comes despite unease among European partners.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimize
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Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Ashley continues to embarrass herself by trying to find ways to legitimize her sustained issue with Stacey on-camera.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025
This is very similar to where senior housing or medical offices were before they became recognized as institutional real estate sectors, according to Fortec, which is looking to legitimize the subsector with its new fund.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2025
The plan would effectively legitimize Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk and comes despite unease among European partners.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legitimize
Cite this Entry
“Legitimize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimize. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
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Legal Definition
legitimize
transitive verb
le·git·i·mize
lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz
legitimized; legitimizing
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