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legitimize

[ li-jit-uh-mahyz ]
/ lɪˈdʒɪt əˌmaɪz /
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See synonyms for: legitimize / legitimized on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), le·git·i·mized, le·git·i·miz·ing.
to make legitimate.
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Also especially British, le·git·i·mise . Also le·git·i·ma·tize, especially British, le·git·i·ma·tise [li-jit-uh-muh-tahyz] /lɪˈdʒɪt ə məˌtaɪz/ .

Origin of legitimize

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin lēgitim(us) (see legitim) + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM legitimize

le·git·i·mi·za·tion, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH legitimize

legitimate, legitimize
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use legitimize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for legitimize

legitimize

legitimise legitimatize or legitimatise (lɪˈdʒɪtɪməˌtaɪz)

/ (lɪˈdʒɪtɪˌmaɪz) /

verb
(tr) to make legitimate; legalize

Derived forms of legitimize

legitimization, legitimisation, legitimatization or legitimatisation, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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