legitimate
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- legal, authentic, authorized, genuine, kosher (informal), lawful, licit, rightful
- reasonable, admissible, correct, justifiable, logical, sensible, valid, warranted, well-founded
[verb]
Synonyms:
- authorize, legalize, legitimize, permit, pronounce lawful, sanction

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Antonyms: illegitimate, arbitrary
Related Words: cogent, sound, valid, acknowledged, recognized, customary, usual, natural, normal, regular, typical

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. le‧git‧i‧mate¹ /ləˈdʒɪtəmət, lɪˈdʒɪtəmət/ adjective
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: past participle of legitimare 'to legitimize', from Latin legitimus 'legitimate', from lex 'law']

1. fair or reasonable:
That’s a perfectly legitimate question.
Most scientists believe it is legitimate to use animals in medical research.

2. acceptable or allowed by law:
Their business operations are perfectly legitimate.

3. a legitimate child is born to parents who are legally married to each other Antonym : illegitimate
—legitimately adverb:
a legitimately elected government
He complained quite legitimately about his treatment.
—legitimacy noun [uncountable]:
Opponents have questioned the legitimacy of the ruling.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. le‧git‧i‧mate² /ləˈdʒɪtəmeɪt, lɪˈdʒɪtəmeɪt/ verb [transitive]
the usual American form of legitimize

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

legitimate
adj
VERBS be, seem | consider sth, deem sth, regard sth as, see sth as
ADV. entirely, perfectly, quite | apparently

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲