Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense legitimates, present participle legitimating, past tense, past participle legitimatedpronunciation note: The adjective is pronounced (lɪdʒɪtɪmət). The verb is pronounced (lɪdʒɪtɪmeɪt).
1. adjective
Something that is legitimate is acceptable according to the law.
The French government has condemned the coup in Haiti and has demanded the restorationof the legitimate government.
The government will not seek to disrupt the legitimate business activities of thedefendant.
Synonyms: lawful, real, true, legal More Synonyms of legitimate
legitimacy (lɪdʒɪtɪməsi)uncountable noun
The opposition parties do not recognise the political legitimacy of his government. [+ of]
legitimatelyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
The government has been legitimately elected by the people.
2. adjective
If you say that something such as a feeling or claim is legitimate, you think that it is reasonable and justified.
That's a perfectly legitimate fear.
The New York Times has a legitimate claim to be a national newspaper.
Synonyms: reasonable, just, correct, sensible More Synonyms of legitimate
legitimacyuncountable noun
As if to prove the legitimacy of these fears, the Cabinet of Franz von Papen collapsedon December 2. [+ of]
legitimatelyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
They could quarrel quite legitimately with some of my choices. [+ with]
3. adjective
A legitimate child is one whose parents were married before he or she was born.
We only married in order that the child should be legitimate.
4. verb
To legitimate something means the same as to legitimize it.
[formal]
We want to legitimate this process by passing a law. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: legitimize, allow, permit, sanction More Synonyms of legitimate
legitimation (lɪdʒɪtɪmeɪʃən)uncountable noun
...the legitimation of state constitutions.
legitimate in British English
adjective (lɪˈdʒɪtɪmɪt)
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 (lɪˈdʒɪtɪˌmeɪt)
8. (transitive)
to make, pronounce, or show to be legitimate
Derived forms
legitimacy (leˈgitimacy) or legitimateness (leˈgitimateness)
noun
legitimately (leˈgitimately)
adverb
legitimation (leˌgitiˈmation)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Medieval Latin lēgitimātus made legal, from lēx law
legitimate in American English
(ləˈdʒɪtəmət; for v., ləˈdʒɪtəˌmeɪt)
adjective
1.
conceived or born of parents legally married to each other
2.
a.
sanctioned by law or custom; lawful
a legitimate claim
b.
conforming to or abiding by the law
3.
ruling by the rights of heredity
a legitimate king
4.
a.
reasonable; logically correct
a legitimate inference
b.
justifiable or justified
5.
conforming to or in accordance with established rules, standards, principles
6. Theatre
designating or of professionally produced stage plays, as distinguished from films, vaudeville, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: leˈgitiˌmated or leˈgitiˌmating
7.
legitimize (sense 1) legitimize (sense 1c)
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈlegal
Derived forms
legitimately (leˈgitimately)
adverb
legitimation (leˌgitiˈmation)
noun
Word origin
ML legitimatus, pp. of legitimare, to make lawful < L legitimus, lawful < lex: see legal
Examples of 'legitimate' in a sentence
legitimate
So he's got an apparently legitimate source for living very high on the hog.
Val McDermid THE LAST TEMPTATION (2002)
Daniel had paraded his stolen goods, making them appear legitimate.
Laura Lippman IN A STRANGE CITY (2002)
In other languages
legitimate
British English: legitimate ADJECTIVE
Something that is legitimate is acceptable according to the law.
They have condemned the coup and demanded the restoration of the legitimate government.
American English: legitimate
Brazilian Portuguese: legítimo
Chinese: 合法的
European Spanish: legítimo
French: légitime
German: rechtmäßig
Italian: legittimo
Japanese: 合法の
Korean: 합법적인
European Portuguese: legítimo
Latin American Spanish: legítimo
Chinese translation of 'legitimate'
legitimate
(lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət)
adj
(= reasonable)[fear, claim, excuse]合理的 (hélǐ de)
(= legal) 合法的 (héfǎ de)
[child]婚生的 (hūnshēng de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
authorized by or in accordance with law
They have demanded the restoration of the legitimate government.
Synonyms
lawful
lawful for the doctors to treat her in whatever way they considered best
real
his first real job
true
He was found to be the true owner of the suitcase.
legal
What I did was perfectly legal.
acknowledged
sanctioned
genuine
They are convinced the painting is genuine.
proper
Two out of five people do not have a proper job.
authentic
patterns for making authentic border-style clothing
statutory
authorized
rightful
The car must be returned to its rightful owner.
kosher (informal)
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
legit (slang)
licit
Opposites
illegal
,
false
,
unlawful
,
fraudulent
,
illegitimate
2 (adjective)
Definition
based on correct or acceptable principles of reasoning
That's a perfectly legitimate fear.
Synonyms
reasonable
a perfectly reasonable decision
just
This cup final is a just reward for all the efforts they have put in.
correct
sensible
She was a sensible girl and did not panic.
valid
Both sides have made valid points.
warranted
logical
There was a logical explanation.
justifiable
the strong and justifiable desire for independence
well-founded
We must respond to well-founded criticism with a willingness to change.
admissible
Opposites
unfair
,
unreasonable
,
unfounded
,
unjustified
,
unsound
(verb)
Definition
to make, pronounce, or show to be legitimate
We want to legitimate this process by passing a law.
Synonyms
legitimize
These images serve to legitimize violence and cruelty.
allow
Would you allow me to accompany you?
permit
I was permitted to bring my camera into the concert.
Our constitution does not permit the sending of troops.
sanction
He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
authorize
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
legalize
a new constitution that legalized divorce
give the green light to
legitimatize
pronounce lawful
Additional synonyms
in the sense of allow
Definition
to permit someone to do something
Would you allow me to accompany you?
Synonyms
let,
permit,
sanction,
entitle,
authorize,
license,
tolerate,
consent to,
countenance,
concede to,
assent to,
give leave to,
give the green light for,
give a blank cheque to
in the sense of authentic
Definition
of undisputed origin or authorship
patterns for making authentic border-style clothing
Synonyms
real,
true,
original,
actual,
pure,
genuine,
valid,
faithful,
undisputed,
veritable,
lawful,
on the level (informal),
bona fide,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
pukka,
the real McCoy,
true-to-life,
live
in the sense of authorize
Definition
to give official permission for
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
Synonyms
permit,
allow,
suffer,
grant,
confirm,
agree to,
approve,
sanction,
endure,
license,
endorse,
warrant,
tolerate,
ratify,
consent to,
countenance,
accredit,
vouch for,
give leave,
give the green light for,
give a blank cheque to,
give authority for
Synonyms of 'legitimate'
legitimate
Explore 'legitimate' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of genuine
Definition
real and exactly what it appears to be
They are convinced the painting is genuine.
Synonyms
authentic,
real,
original,
actual,
sound,
true,
pure,
sterling,
valid,
legitimate,
honest,
veritable,
bona fide,
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
pukka,
the real McCoy
in the sense of just
This cup final is a just reward for all the efforts they have put in.
Synonyms
fitting,
due,
correct,
deserved,
appropriate,
justified,
reasonable,
suitable,
decent,
sensible,
merited,
proper,
legitimate,
desirable,
apt,
rightful,
well-deserved,
condign
in the sense of justifiable
Definition
having a good cause or reason
the strong and justifiable desire for independence
Synonyms
reasonable,
right,
sound,
fit,
acceptable,
sensible,
proper,
valid,
legitimate,
understandable,
lawful,
well-founded,
defensible,
tenable,
excusable,
warrantable,
vindicable
in the sense of legal
Definition
established by or permitted by law
What I did was perfectly legal.
Synonyms
lawful,
allowed,
sanctioned,
constitutional,
proper,
valid,
legitimate,
authorized,
rightful,
permissible,
legalized,
allowable,
within the law,
licit
in the sense of legalize
Definition
to make lawful or legal
a new constitution that legalized divorce
Synonyms
permit,
allow,
approve,
sanction,
license,
legitimate,
authorize,
validate,
legitimize,
make legal,
decriminalize
in the sense of logical
Definition
reasonable because of facts or events
There was a logical explanation.
Synonyms
reasonable,
obvious,
sensible,
most likely,
natural,
necessary,
wise,
plausible,
judicious
in the sense of permit
Definition
to allow (someone) to do something
I was permitted to bring my camera into the concert.Our constitution does not permit the sending of troops.
Synonyms
allow,
admit,
grant,
sanction,
let,
suffer,
agree to,
entitle,
endure,
license,
endorse,
warrant,
tolerate,
authorize,
empower,
consent to,
give the green light to,
give leave or permission
in the sense of proper
Definition
real or genuine
Two out of five people do not have a proper job.
Synonyms
real,
actual,
genuine,
true,
bona fide,
kosher (informal),
dinkum (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
in the sense of real
Definition
rightly so called
his first real job
Synonyms
proper,
true,
valid,
legitimate
in the sense of rightful
Definition
held by virtue of a legal or just claim
The car must be returned to its rightful owner.
Synonyms
lawful,
just,
real,
true,
due,
legal,
suitable,
proper,
valid,
legitimate,
authorized,
bona fide,
de jure
Additional synonyms
in the sense of sanction
Definition
to officially approve of or allow
He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
Synonyms
permit,
back,
support,
allow,
approve,
entitle,
endorse,
authorize,
countenance,
vouch for,
lend your name to
in the sense of sensible
Definition
having or showing good sense or judgment
She was a sensible girl and did not panic.
Synonyms
intelligent,
practical,
reasonable,
rational,
sound,
realistic,
sober,
discriminating,
discreet,
sage,
shrewd,
down-to-earth,
matter-of-fact,
prudent,
sane,
canny,
judicious,
far-sighted,
sagacious,
grounded
in the sense of true
Definition
real or genuine
He was found to be the true owner of the suitcase.
Synonyms
rightful,
legal,
recognized,
valid,
legitimate,
authorized,
lawful,
bona fide,
de jure
in the sense of valid
Definition
based on sound reasoning
Both sides have made valid points.
Synonyms
sound,
good,
reasonable,
just,
telling,
powerful,
convincing,
substantial,
acceptable,
sensible,
rational,
logical,
viable,
credible,
sustainable,
plausible,
conclusive,
weighty,
well-founded,
cogent,
well-grounded
in the sense of well-founded
Definition
having a sound basis in fact
We must respond to well-founded criticism with a willingness to change.