Word: legitimate

Associations

"Legitimate" means something that is real, acceptable, or justified. It often refers to things that are lawful or conforming to rules.

• Example 1: "She has a legitimate reason for being late." This means her reason is valid and acceptable.
• Example 2: "The organization is a legitimate charity." This means the charity is officially recognized and allowed by law.
• Example 3: "His claims were legitimate." This means his claims were true and justifiable.

Synonym: A well-known synonym for "legitimate" is "valid." The most important difference is that "valid" often refers more to arguments or statements that are sound, while "legitimate" carries a stronger sense of authority or lawfulness.

Substitution

If you want to use another word or phrase instead of "legitimate," consider:

• "authentic" - This implies being genuine or real.
• "lawful" - This focuses mainly on legality.
• "justifiable" - This indicates that there are good reasons for something.

Using these substitutes can slightly change the emphasis. For example, "lawful" emphasizes that something complies with the law, while "authentic" emphasizes its genuineness.

Deconstruction

The word "legitimate" comes from the Latin root "legitimus," meaning "lawful." The prefix "leg-" relates to law, and the suffix "-imate" helps form adjectives in English. Understanding this will help you remember that "legitimate" concerns legality and acceptability.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you had a legitimate excuse for something?
• How do you determine whether something is a legitimate source of information nowadays (like on the internet)?
• In what other areas do you think the concept of legitimacy is important, such as in business or relationships?