Meaning
- Legitimate (adjective) means lawful, proper, or acceptable according to rules, laws, or standards.
- It can also mean reasonable, valid, or genuine.
Grammar and Usage
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Part of speech: Adjective
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Common structures:
- legitimate authority = authority based on law or rules
- legitimate reason = a fair or reasonable reason
- legitimate child/business = born to legally married parents / legally recognized business
It can also be used as a verb (less common): to legitimate = to make something lawful or acceptable.
Common Phrases
- legitimate business – a business that follows the law
- legitimate concerns – valid or reasonable concerns
- legitimate authority – authority recognized by law or rules
- legitimate heir – a child who has the legal right to inherit property
Collocations
- legitimate + concern
- legitimate + reason
- legitimate + government
- legitimate + claim
- legitimate + child
- legitimate + business
Examples
- The police acted under legitimate authority.
- She raised a legitimate concern about safety.
- He provided a legitimate reason for being late.
- The company operates as a legitimate business, not a scam.
- They questioned whether the election was legitimate.
- His anger was legitimate, given the circumstances.
- The organization seeks legitimate recognition from the government.
- That is a legitimate question and deserves an answer.
Synonyms or Related
- lawful
- legal
- valid
- genuine
- proper
- reasonable