Words / C1

li-JIT-im-uh-t/lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət/

Legitimate means lawful, or accepted as fair and valid: a legitimate claim, legitimate concern. Legal is everyday for “allowed by law”; legitimacy (already in the dictionary) is the noun. Legitimate as a verb (/lɪˈdʒɪtɪmeɪt/) is “make legitimate”. Do not call a rumour legitimate because it is popular.

Meaning

Allowed by law or accepted as fair and reasonable.

Examples

• “A legitimate query named the missing date; a rant did not.”
• “A legitimate query named the missing date; a rant named nobody.”
• “Legal is the everyday law word. Illegitimate is the opposite (and also an old family-law term). Legitimacy is the noun. Popular is not the same as legitimate.”

Good to know

Lawful / validly accepted. Everyday: legal / valid. Noun: legitimacy (already in the dictionary). Verb: legitimate. Popular ≠ legitimate.

Near in meaning

valid

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