legitimate 1 of 2

adjective

li-ˈji-tə-mət How to pronounce legitimate (audio)
Definition of legitimatenext
as in legal
permitted by law the mistrust created among investors by the financial scandal has hurt even companies engaged in wholly legitimate business practices

Synonyms & Similar Words

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legitimate

2 of 2

verb

as in to legitimize

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How is the word legitimate different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of legitimate are lawful, legal, and licit. While all these words mean "being in accordance with law," legitimate may apply to a legal right or status but also, in extended use, to a right or status supported by tradition, custom, or accepted standards.

a perfectly legitimate question about taxes

When is it sensible to use lawful instead of legitimate?

The synonyms lawful and legitimate are sometimes interchangeable, but lawful may apply to conformity with law of any sort (such as natural, divine, common, or canon).

the lawful sovereign

When can legal be used instead of legitimate?

While in some cases nearly identical to legitimate, legal applies to what is sanctioned by law or in conformity with the law, especially as it is written or administered by the courts.

legal residents of the state

In what contexts can licit take the place of legitimate?

Although the words licit and legitimate have much in common, licit applies to a strict conformity to the provisions of the law and applies especially to what is regulated by law.

the licit use of drugs by doctors

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of legitimate
Adjective
Now, the political and operational initiative — with the right to legitimate defense — is held by the party that both knows how to play it smart and avoids indiscriminate fire. —Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025 The only domestic organ that could have legitimated the strike is Congress, but it wasn’t even given the chance. —Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
Verb
Absent due process, there’s no pause to decide whether this person should be condemned or if the reason given for condemnation is legitimate. —JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025 One of the newest threats comes in the form of malicious apps that appear legitimate but can take full control of your device. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for legitimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legitimate
  1. legal
  2. legitimize
  3. justifiable
  4. validate
  5. lawful
  6. sanction
  7. privilege
  8. warrant
Adjective
  • The document stated that NFL personnel may participate in legal non-sports gambling on personal time (when not traveling on club or league business), including during the season.
    — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Through the third quarter of this year, legal sports betting generated $10 billion in revenue, up about 19% from the same period a year ago, according to the American Gaming Association.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of legal
Verb
  • While Stone’s abilities alone might legitimize extraterrestrial suspicions, there’s more to why Teddy has pinpointed Michelle.
    — Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
  • This was legitimized as a way to protect the country from further invasions – which the French were constantly threatening to do.
    — Julia Gaffield, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
Definition of legitimize
Adjective
  • Stand your ground laws and their complicated history Most stand your ground laws center around justifiable uses of force, according to Cynthia Godsoe, a professor of criminal law at Brooklyn Law School.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Homicides involving white shooters and Black victims are more likely to be ruled justifiable than those involving Black shooters and white victims.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 17 Oct. 2025
Definition of justifiable
Verb
  • Every bolt, every line of code, every system had to be validated and tested carefully, or the shuttle would never leave the launchpad.
    — Dave Smith, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Among other benefits of cloud-native technologies, engineers can quickly validate product designs in real-world conditions, while CAE developers receive rapid feedback to optimize performance.
    — Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2025
Definition of validate
Adjective
  • He was enrolled in a master’s program in biblical studies, but currently does not have lawful status in the country, officials said.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Authorities said that he was previously admitted to the United States on a student visa and no longer holds lawful immigration status and is currently in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Definition of lawful
Verb
  • Hannah, 54, writes thrillers under her own name as well as the Poirots, sanctioned by the Christie estate.
    — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Construction and engineering services firm Geotech Holdings – which has seven subsidiaries, each sanctioned by the US government – has headquarters in Kwai Chung, home to the city’s container port.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of sanction
Verb
  • But the methods themselves privilege human-like skills.
    — Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 8 Oct. 2025
  • And the dialogue would happen on platforms that goad each of us into being the worst versions of ourselves; that prioritize in-group performance over listening; that reward outrage and outrageousness; that collapse context; that exist to privilege conflict over resolution.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of privilege
Verb
  • The scrutiny is warranted – Hollywood is watching tech companies try to replace creative judgment with pattern recognition, treating the art of storytelling as a prediction problem.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Strong winds are occurring but are not so strong as to warrant a High wind warning.
    — KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Definition of warrant

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legitimacy
legitimate
legitimated
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Cite this Entry

“Legitimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legitimate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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