Added 9 October 2026
legitimate
/lɪˈd͡ʒɪt.ɪ.mət/ verb
In Latin: lēgitimus Wiktionary
verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about legitimate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Make legal.
Marijuana should be legalized
- Show or affirm to be just and legitimate.
-
Make (an illegitimate child) legitimate; declare the legitimacy of (someone).
They legitimized their natural child
adjective
- Of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful.
-
Based on known statements or events or conditions.
rain was a logical expectation, given the time of year
-
In accordance with recognized or accepted standards or principles.
legitimate advertising practices
Origin
From Middle English legitimat, legytymat, from Medieval Latin lēgitimātus, perfect passive participle of Latin lēgitimō (“to make legal”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from Latin lēgitimus (“lawful”), originally "fixed by law, in line with the law," from Latin lēx (“law”). Originally "lawfully begotten". The noun was derived from the adjective within English or earlier by substantivization (see -ate (noun-forming suffix)), the verb from the adjective by conversion (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)