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
The Dons’ head coach was Todd Golden, who five years later won a national title with Florida and helped legitimize analytics in college basketball.
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Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
Perhaps more extraordinary than America’s ability and willingness to play the dominant role was the readiness of most other great powers to embrace and legitimize its dominance—even at the expense of their own potency.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
Progressives have long argued — often rightly — that incendiary rhetoric from public officials can legitimize harassment, intimidation, and violence.
—David Moore, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026
Those narratives helped legitimize problems medicine had long ignored.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimize
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Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
Perhaps more extraordinary than America’s ability and willingness to play the dominant role was the readiness of most other great powers to embrace and legitimize its dominance—even at the expense of their own potency.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
Progressives have long argued — often rightly — that incendiary rhetoric from public officials can legitimize harassment, intimidation, and violence.
—David Moore, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026
Those narratives helped legitimize problems medicine had long ignored.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimize
Cite this Entry
“Legitimize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimize. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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Legal Definition
legitimize
transitive verb
le·git·i·mize
lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz
legitimized; legitimizing
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