legitimize

especially British, le·git·i·mise
especially British, le·git·i·ma·tize,

[li-jit-uh-mahyz]

verb (used with object)

legitimized, legitimizing 

1. to make legitimate.

legitimize

/ lɪˈdʒɪtɪməˌtaɪz, lɪˈdʒɪtɪˌmaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to make legitimate; legalize

Other Word Forms

• legitimization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of legitimize¹

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

Example Sentences

The picture of Russia emerging triumphant and legitimized from such a deal is, ahem, at variance with reality.

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“Seeing Peggy get her Cinderella moment legitimized her as one of the romantic leads of the show,” Benton says.

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In the decades that followed, in his complementary positions as book critic and editor, Cowley worked tirelessly to legitimize the innovative writing of Hemingway, John Dos Passos, Hart Crane, E.E.

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In a notable example, Cheney maneuvered to legitimize so-called enhanced interrogation in the war on terror, which critics said amounted to torture.

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A genre as wide-reaching and weird as this one doesn’t need golden statues to be legitimized.

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Related Words

• codify 
• constitute 
• decriminalize 
• legislate 
• regulate