LEGITIMATE Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

legitimate 1 of 2

adjective

li-ˈji-tə-mət

Definition of legitimate

as in legal

permitted by law the mistrust created among investors by the financial scandal has hurt even companies engaged in wholly legitimate business practices

Synonyms & Similar Words

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legitimate

2 of 2

verb

as in to legitimize

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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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of legitimate

Adjective

Under the policy, trafficking concerns must now go through the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which controls the children’s custody, raising fears legitimate cases will be missed or delayed. — Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026 As agents become more autonomous, distinguishing legitimate AI activity from malicious activity will also become more difficult. — Shane Buckley, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

And the fact that Pochettino’s contract is so close to expiring was only going to add to this type of rumor mill — and to legitimate interest and recruitment. — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 29 May 2026 For schools, one bill would limit the use of student biometric data to legitimate instructional purposes, while another would prohibit teachers from using AI to assign grades on student work. — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for legitimate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimate

Adjective

Jury nullification is not a legal right so much as a practical power.

— Monu Bedi, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
The move adds Missouri to a contentious legal battle between states and the federal government over who has authority to regulate prediction markets, which allow users to bet on the outcome of events ranging from sports, elections, and the weather.

— Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of legal

Verb

The Kremlin wants the parliamentary election — the first since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — to showcase popular support for the war and legitimize its action.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
Kremlin expected to keep control The Kremlin wants the parliamentary election — the first since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — to showcase popular support for the war and legitimize its action.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of legitimize

Adjective

The tax revolt was a successful attempt by a small group of ideologues to capitalize on people’s justifiable anger at the cost-of-living crisis that followed the war in Vietnam, along with California’s runaway home prices.

— Maggie McGowan, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
The valuation of Fernandez is entirely justifiable within the context of the huge fees paid by several Premier League clubs, and specifically City, for high-level central midfielders this summer.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of justifiable

Verb

The strongest candidates would then be validated at USA Rare Earth’s research and development facility in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, before potentially being incorporated into the company’s processing flowsheets.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
The Tmall store serves both as an official entry point and a platform for validating consumer demand.

— Advertorial, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of validate

Verb

Bluster and bravado are big parts of the playbook for North Korea, an isolated and oft-sanctioned autocracy that the Kim family has ruled since 1948.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Although Iran’s leading pharmaceutical firms are not themselves under sanctions, several of the largest are connected to sanctioned charitable conglomerates or to sanctioned individuals.

— Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of sanction

Verb

This was right in the peak of Elon Musk’s reconstruction of Twitter, privileging rage bait and engagement tactics that helped misinformation disseminate like fact.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
The premise couldn’t be simpler, though Wollner’s incredible prologue — a careful arrangement of low-event long takes that emphasize how people move through spaces in time — trains our eyes to privilege texture over incident.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of privilege

Verb

Although there were some inconsistencies in Parker’s overall game, there was enough there to warrant a handful of more snaps.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Those factors help determine which exposures warrant commercial transfer and which the company can retain or finance through another structure.

— Randy Sadler, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of warrant

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“Legitimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimate. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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