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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

legitimate

2 of 2

verb

as in to legitimize

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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
The messages also mimic legitimate government communications by including familiar terms, official-sounding codes and web addresses that appear authentic. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2025 Those developer accounts once distributed legitimate apps, but have been compromised for this malicious campaign. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Verb
In response, elites double down, weaponizing the claim of misinformation to legitimate the stifling of debate. —Jacob Hale Russell, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025 Channeling their legacy of opposing power politics, internationalism and international organization would legitimate the American domination of power politics like no lone nationalism or limited alliance could. —Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 9 Feb. 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
  • Several legal challenges to this practice are now pending in federal courts.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
  • In documents submitted to the court this week, the president’s lawyers argued that such conditions did exist in Los Angeles, making the deployments legal.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2025
Definition of legal
Verb
  • In one of the many anecdotes, Acharya tells us how Wu – who reigned between A.D. 690 and 705 – took imagery from Indian Buddhism to legitimize her claim to the Tang dynasty throne.
    — Abhijnan Rej, Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2025
  • What is Barlow, and also Hoang, saying here about what an ‘artist’ looks like, what art is legitimized and how that might change over time?
    — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 4 June 2025
Definition of legitimize
Adjective
  • Our involvement in the war was justifiable, and this belongs to our sovereign rights.
    — Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
  • These cultures tend to view divorce as a justifiable and often necessary step toward self-fulfillment.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of justifiable
Verb
  • Startups begin with a single product, focusing on validating product-market fit based on a few customer conversations or feedback, involving lots of demos and proof of concepts.
    — Anjai Lal, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
  • Reaching this point can feel thrilling, even validating.
    — Melody Wilding, Harvard Business Review, 13 June 2025
Definition of validate
Adjective
  • Now, Ukrainians are asking America to keep that promise—not with weapons, but with compassion and lawful protection.
    — Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
  • Additional money would be saved by eliminating SNAP benefits for between 120,000 and 250,000 immigrants legally in the U.S. who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents.
    — David A. Lieb, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
Definition of lawful
Verb
  • In 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Mohamed’s Enterprise — one of Guyana’s largest gold firms — for allegedly bribing customs officials and failing to report exports.
    — Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
  • That order had already been used to sanction ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan.
    — Jade Walker, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
Definition of sanction
Verb
  • While the hostage spends most of the movie off-camera, his abductors are crammed into frames that contain all of their perspectives without privileging any of them.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 May 2025
  • This has often cast mountaineering achievements in a way that privileges men.
    — Jenny Hall, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Definition of privilege
Verb
  • The Outer Worlds was released at the then-standard price of $60 back in 2019, and performed well enough to warrant this sequel.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
  • Abrego Garcia’s criminal lawyers, from the Federal Public Defender’s office in Nashville, argue the government has not given enough evidence to warrant his detention.
    — Evan Mealins, USA Today, 14 June 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 19 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of legitimate for Spanish Speakers

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