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
And, contemporary grief theories seem to legitimize the role travel can play in grieving.
—
Leslie Hsu Oh, Vogue, 1 May 2025
New laws were retrospectively created, and artificial justifications for nationalization were invented to legitimize the process.
—Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Militia groups, in Mulloy’s research, exploit the need for violence in the American Revolution and the settling of the American West to legitimize their contemporary calls.
—Art Jipson, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025
In an interview with far-right talk show host Tucker Carlson on Friday, Trump's lead Ukraine negotiator Steve Witkoff praised Putin and regurgitated talking points the Kremlin uses to legitimize its invasion.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2025
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Leslie Hsu Oh, Vogue, 1 May 2025
New laws were retrospectively created, and artificial justifications for nationalization were invented to legitimize the process.
—Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Militia groups, in Mulloy’s research, exploit the need for violence in the American Revolution and the settling of the American West to legitimize their contemporary calls.
—Art Jipson, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025
In an interview with far-right talk show host Tucker Carlson on Friday, Trump's lead Ukraine negotiator Steve Witkoff praised Putin and regurgitated talking points the Kremlin uses to legitimize its invasion.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 25 Mar. 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 12 May. 2025.
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Legal Definition
legitimize
transitive verb
le·git·i·mize
lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz
legitimized; legitimizing
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