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 role did the press play in legitimizing American action in the Spanish American War and also bringing it to an end?
—
Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Trump signed the Genius Act in July, legislation that legitimized the technology.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
The Goetz saga proved just how effectively narratives of crime, and outright misinformation, could be used to discredit government, justify inequality, and legitimize extrajudicial violence—all while claiming the mantle of common sense.
—Heather Ann Thompson, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
The Dons’ head coach was Todd Golden, who five years later won a national title with Florida and helped legitimize analytics in college basketball.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for legitimize
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Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Trump signed the Genius Act in July, legislation that legitimized the technology.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
The Goetz saga proved just how effectively narratives of crime, and outright misinformation, could be used to discredit government, justify inequality, and legitimize extrajudicial violence—all while claiming the mantle of common sense.
—Heather Ann Thompson, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
The Dons’ head coach was Todd Golden, who five years later won a national title with Florida and helped legitimize analytics in college basketball.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 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 6 Feb. 2026.
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Legal Definition
legitimize
transitive verb
le·git·i·mize
lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz
legitimized; legitimizing
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