legitimate
adjective
1. of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful
Similar word(s): authorised, authorized, legal, morganatic, lawful, rightful, true, valid
2. authentic, real, genuine.
Similar word(s): valid, logical
3. in accordance with accepted standards or principles.
- legitimate advertising practices
Similar word(s): constituted, established
4. authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law
- a legitimate government
Similar word(s): legal, lawful, licit
Sentences with legitimate as an adjective:
- legitimate reasoning; a legitimate standard or method
- legitimate poems of Chaucer; legitimate inscriptions
verb
1. make legal
Similar word(s): decriminalise, decriminalize, legalise, legalize, legitimatise, legitimatize, legitimise, legitimize
Definition categories: social, allow, countenance, let, permit
2. show or affirm to be just and legitimate
Definition categories: communication, justify, vindicate
3. make (an illegitimate child) legitimate; declare the legitimacy of (someone)
- They legitimized their natural child