in accordance with law
a legitimate government
ruling by or based on the strict principle of hereditary right
a legitimate claim to the throne
neither spurious nor false; genuine
a legitimate grievance
recognized as lawful offspring; born in wedlock
conforming to recognized principles or accepted rules and standards
in accordance with reason or logic
a legitimate deduction
relating to serious professional drama as opposed to music hall, musical comedy, etc
legitimacy /-si/ noun
legitimately adv
[medieval Latin legitimatus, past part. of legitimare to legitimate, from Latin legitimus legitimate, from leg-, lex law]