- legitimate⇄adj. 1. allowed or admitted by law; rightful; lawful.
Ex. a legitimate claim.
2. allowed; valid, logical, or acceptable.
Ex. a legitimate conclusion. Sickness is a legitimate reason for a child's being absent from school.
3. bor - legitimate⇄adv. legitimately.
- legitimate⇄legitimate, adjective, verb, -mated,-mating.
- legitimate⇄noun legitimateness.
- legitimate⇄noun legitimation.
- legitimate⇄v.t. 1. to make or declare lawful.
2. to affirm or show to be legitimate; authorize or justify by word or example.
Ex. Necessity legitimates my advice; for it is the only way to save our lives (Daniel Defoe).