legitimate

[ adjective noun li-jit-uh-mit; verb li-jit-uh-meyt ]

adjective

1. according to law; lawful:

   the property's legitimate owner.

   Synonyms: licit, legal

   Antonyms: illegitimate

2. in accordance with established rules, principles, or standards.

   Synonyms: sanctioned

3. born in wedlock or of legally married parents:

   legitimate children.

4. in accordance with the laws of reasoning; logically inferable; logical:

   a legitimate conclusion.

   Synonyms: valid

5. resting on or ruling by the principle of hereditary right:

   a legitimate sovereign.

6. not spurious or unjustified; genuine:

   It was a legitimate complaint.

7. of the normal or regular type or kind.
8. Theater. of or relating to professionally produced stage plays, as distinguished from burlesque, vaudeville, television, motion pictures, etc.:

   an actor in the legitimate theater.

verb (used with object)

, le·git·i·mat·ed, le·git·i·mat·ing.

1. to make lawful or legal; pronounce or state as lawful:

   Parliament legitimated his accession to the throne.

   Synonyms: legalize

2. to establish as lawfully born:

   His bastard children were afterward legitimated by law.

3. to show or declare to be legitimate or proper:

   He was under obligation to legitimate his commission.

4. to justify; sanction or authorize:

   His behavior was legitimated by custom.

noun

1. the legitimate, the legitimate theater or drama.
2. a person who is established as being legitimate.

legitimate

adjective

1. born in lawful wedlock; enjoying full filial rights
2. conforming to established standards of usage, behaviour, etc
3. based on correct or acceptable principles of reasoning
4. reasonable, sensible, or valid

   a legitimate question

5. authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law
6. of, relating to, or ruling by hereditary right

   a legitimate monarch

7. of or relating to a body of famous long-established plays as distinct from films, television, vaudeville, etc

   the legitimate theatre

verb

1. tr to make, pronounce, or show to be legitimate

Derived Forms

• leˈgitimately, adverb
• leˈgitimacy, noun
• leˌgitiˈmation, noun

Other Words From

• le·giti·mate·ly adverb
• le·giti·mate·ness noun
• le·giti·mation noun
• dele·giti·mate verb (used with object) delegitimated delegitimating
• dele·giti·mation noun
• nonle·giti·mate adjective
• postle·giti·mation noun
• quasi-le·giti·mate adjective
• quasi-le·giti·mate·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of legitimate¹

First recorded in 1485–95, legitimate is from the Medieval Latin word lēgitimātus (past participle of lēgitimāre to make lawful). See legitim, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of legitimate¹

C15: from Medieval Latin lēgitimātus made legal, from lēx law

Example Sentences

X alleges the new law would prompt social media sites to lean toward labeling or removing legitimate election content out of caution.

From Los Angeles Times

"We remain committed to continued reforms and welcome constructive dialogue to address any legitimate concerns fairly and transparently," they added.

From BBC

Eric Hovde, a businessman and bank executive, is claiming that because of alleged voting irregularities and the presence of a right-wing, pro-gun third party candidate, the election result was not legitimate.

From Salon

This is what happens when the right-wing media spreads propaganda, the mainstream media treated him like a legitimate candidate and concrete policies take the backseat to personality and feelings.

From Salon

The Born rule bridges the math of quantum theory to the outcomes of experiments, which makes the field a legitimate scientific discipline in the first place.

From Salon

Related Words

• appropriate
• certain
• consistent
• correct
• fair
• genuine
• justifiable
• lawful
• logical
• natural
• normal
• proper
• real
• reasonable
• reliable
• rightful
• sensible
• statutory
• true
• well-founded