adj

legitimate

lih-JIHT-ih-muht

adj

Allowed by, or in agreement with, the law.

"The company operates a legitimate import business."

Reasonable, valid, or based on sound logic or accepted standards.

"She raised a legitimate concern about the budget."

"That's a legitimate excuse for missing the deadline."

verb

To make something lawful or officially accepted as valid.

"The treaty legitimated the new border."

How to Use Legitimate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLegitimate means either lawful/official, or reasonable and justified.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with legible (able to be read) — they look similar but are unrelated.

Easily confused with

legible →

Common pairings

legitimate reason legitimate business legitimate concern

Word Forms

more legitimate comparative, legitimated past tense, legitimates plural, legitimates singular, most legitimate superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The company operates a _____ import business.

Etymology

From Medieval Latin legitimatus, "made lawful", from Latin legitimus ("lawful"), itself from lex, "law". It originally described children "lawfully begotten" — that is, born to a married couple.

Antonyms

illegitimate

Related Words

bastard valid fake illegitimate

Rhymes for legitimate

ate date rate mate fate gate hate pate late Nate Kate cate

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