Legitimate
Conforming to the law or to accepted standards; genuine, authentic, or well-founded.
adjectiveLegitimate
Conforming to the law or to accepted standards; genuine, authentic, or well-founded.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine a courtroom where a judge stamps a contract with LEGITIMATE, signaling that it is legally valid and truly binding.
Sounds Like
leh-JIT-uh-mit
Looks Like
Looks like 'legal' with the -imate ending; starts with 'legit', a common slang for genuine.
Remember This
Legitimate contrasts with illegitimate (not lawful or not genuine). Historically, legitimate also referred to children born within a lawful marriage, affecting inheritance.
Other Forms
Connect With
lawful, legal, rightful, authentic, genuine, valid
Note
Avoid using 'legitimate' to mean merely proper or suitable in casual speech; in formal writing, reserve for something legally valid or well-founded.