legitimate

[li-jit-uh-mit, 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)

legitimated, legitimating 

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

Other Word Forms

• legitimately adverb
• legitimateness noun
• legitimation noun
• delegitimate verb (used with object)
• delegitimation noun
• nonlegitimate adjective
• postlegitimation noun
• quasi-legitimate adjective
• quasi-legitimately adverb
• legitimacy noun

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

The king remains the legitimate head of state, military and religious affairs, holding the power to appoint and remove ministers if necessary.

From BBC

The same need for the court to determine who can decide what is or is not a legitimate fact also applies to this year’s controversy over conversion therapy.

From Salon

The protests have been happening at night, with police saying they were forced to open fire "in legitimate self-defence" on Wednesday evening to repel the "attack" in Lqliaa, the state-owned news agency reported.

From BBC

"This feels like a legitimate world-class lightweight battle between two guys who can step seamlessly into the top 10 in the world right now," said Hardy.

From BBC

The statement added: "The stories concerned, many of which were published 20 or more years ago, and not subject to any complaint at the time, were the product of responsible journalism based on legitimate sources".

From BBC

Related Words

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