WordGarden.iolegitimate
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /lɪdʒˈɪtɪmɪt/
US
- /ləˈdʒɪtəmət/
Meanings
Adjective
lawful, valid, or officially recognized under law or formal rules
reasonable, justified, or acceptable
real or genuine, not fake, fraudulent, or merely a cover
More meaningsFewer meanings
in older, potentially stigmatizing usage, born to parents who are married to each other
Beyond the definition
If something is legitimate, it is real, proper, or allowed by law or rules. Think of a police officer: they have legitimate authority because the law gives them that power. A winning lottery ticket is legitimate if it was bought the right way and the numbers match. You can also talk about a legitimate concern or a legitimate reason, meaning one that makes sense and should be taken seriously. If someone says they are a doctor, you would want to check their credentials to make sure they are legitimate before trusting their advice.
The word "legitimate" carries weight: it points to something being lawful, genuine, or accepted as proper within a system. It comes from the Latin legitimus, meaning "lawful," and over time it has grown to cover more than just legal matters.
At its core, legitimate means conforming to the law, to rules, or to accepted standards. A legitimate government is one that came to power through accepted legal or constitutional processes, while a legitimate business is a real, lawful business rather than a fake or dishonest one. But the word also reaches beyond law and official systems.
"Legitimate" can also describe something that is reasonable or justified. You might have a legitimate concern about the safety of a new product, or a legitimate reason for being late to work, such as a flat tire. In these cases, it suggests that your feelings, actions, or claims are well-founded and understandable.
The word often appears in contexts involving authority, claims, rights, or identity. For example: "She had a legitimate claim to the inheritance," or "He questioned the legitimacy of the election results." Sometimes it is used simply to stress that something is not fake or counterfeit; a legitimate antique is not a modern reproduction but the real thing. Whether you are talking about laws, concerns, businesses, or objects, "legitimate" suggests that something is genuine, lawful, reasonable, or properly recognized.
Examples
- 1
Official organization
The charity is a legitimate organization, so donations go through official channels.
- 2
Valid reason
She had a legitimate reason for missing the meeting.
- 3
Email safety
Before entering your password, make sure the email looks legitimate.
- 4
Safety concerns
Parents raised legitimate concerns about the safety of the new playground.
- Phraselegitimate concerns
worries that are reasonable and should be taken seriously
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Acceptable question
It is legitimate to ask why the costs increased so quickly.
- Patternit is legitimate to + verb
it is reasonable and acceptable to do it
- 6
Political authority
After the election, the new government struggled to prove that it was legitimate.
- 7
Legal claim
The family has a legitimate claim to the land, but the case is still in court.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- legitimate reason
- legitimate claim
- legitimate authority
- perfectly legitimate
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- legitimateverbadjective
Forms
- legitimatedpast tenseverbadjective
- legitimating-ing formverbadjective
- legitimatesverbadjective