legitimate 1 of 2

legitimate

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word legitimate different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of legitimate are lawful, legal, and licit. While all these words mean "being in accordance with law," legitimate may apply to a legal right or status but also, in extended use, to a right or status supported by tradition, custom, or accepted standards.

a perfectly legitimate question about taxes

When is it sensible to use lawful instead of legitimate?

The synonyms lawful and legitimate are sometimes interchangeable, but lawful may apply to conformity with law of any sort (such as natural, divine, common, or canon).

the lawful sovereign

When can legal be used instead of legitimate?

While in some cases nearly identical to legitimate, legal applies to what is sanctioned by law or in conformity with the law, especially as it is written or administered by the courts.

legal residents of the state

In what contexts can licit take the place of legitimate?

Although the words licit and legitimate have much in common, licit applies to a strict conformity to the provisions of the law and applies especially to what is regulated by law.

the licit use of drugs by doctors

Examples of legitimate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Page Six items were reported like any legitimate news story. Susan Mulcahy, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2024 But the image, which was shared the same day and shows the former president wading through a flooded street, isn't legitimate. Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
The Eurasian Observatory of Elections and Democracy, which had previously helped to legitimate elections in Transnistria, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia, also invited the PVV to join; however, Wilders declined to participate. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 Feb. 2024 This would help send an additional $1 billion to legitimate artists on the platform, the company added. Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2023 See all Example Sentences for legitimate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legitimate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near legitimate

Cite this Entry

“Legitimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimate. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on legitimate

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