Legitimate
/ləˈdʒɪtəmɪt/
adjectiveverbB2
Definition
Legitimate describes something that is allowed by law, rules, or accepted as real and true. When used as a verb, it means to make something legal or officially acceptable. People use this word to say that something is fair, right, or proper.
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See It in Action
(Adjective) Allowed by law or rules; real and acceptable
- •The company has legitimate reasons for raising prices.
- •She has a legitimate claim to the property.
- •His concerns about safety are legitimate.
(Verb) To make something legal or acceptable
- •The government tried to legitimate the new law quickly.
- •They worked to legitimate their business after the scandal.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "legitimate" like "real" or "true," but with a strong idea of being allowed or legal
- ✓Picture a certificate or official paper that shows something is approved or correct
- ✓It's the feeling when you know something is fair and follows the rules, like a fair game or honest deal
- ✓Sounds like "leg-it-uh-mit" → imagine a LEG (leg) that is strong and supports something firmly and correctly
- ✓Think of a judge or police officer who says something is legitimate because it follows the law
- ✓NOT like "fake" (not real or allowed), "legitimate" means it is real and allowed by rules
- ✓NOT like "wrong" or "illegal," which mean not allowed or against the law
- ✓As a verb, "legitimate" means to make something legal or accepted, not just to say it is
Try Other Words
- •Legal: allowed by law (Use when you want to emphasize law or rules)
- •Authentic: real and not fake (Use when focusing on being genuine or original)
- •Valid: acceptable and correct (Use when something is true or acceptable in a situation)
- •Lawful: following the law exactly (Use in formal or legal contexts)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: "legit-" from Latin "legitimus" meaning lawful + suffix "-imate" forming adjective/verb
- •Etymology: From Latin "legitimus," meaning lawful or according to law
- •Historical development: Entered English in the 15th century to describe lawful or rightful status
- •Modern usage: Used both as adjective (legal, real, acceptable) and verb (to make legal or acceptable)
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be legitimate in one country but not in another? How does culture or law affect this?
•How do you decide if a reason or claim is legitimate in your own life or work?
Fill in the blanks
1.The company’s complaint was considered legitimate because it followed all the ___ rules and procedures.
2.When a law is legitimate, it means it is ___ by the government or authority.
3.Unlike fake documents, legitimate papers are ___ and accepted by officials.
4.To legitimate a new policy, the government must ___ it through proper channels.
5.She felt her concerns were legitimate and deserved to be ___ seriously.
6.If a business is not legitimate, it may ___ legal problems or lose customers.
7.The judge said the contract was legitimate, so the parties had to ___ by its terms.