LEGITIMATE
Dictionary entry overview: What does legitimate mean?
• LEGITIMATE (adjective)
The adjective LEGITIMATE has 4 senses:
1. of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful
2. based on known statements or events or conditions
3. in accordance with recognized or accepted standards or principles
4. authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law
Familiarity information: LEGITIMATE used as an adjective is uncommon.
• LEGITIMATE (verb)
The verb LEGITIMATE has 3 senses:
1. make legal
2. show or affirm to be just and legitimate
3. make (an illegitimate child) legitimate; declare the legitimacy of (someone)
Familiarity information: LEGITIMATE used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• LEGITIMATE (adjective)
Meaning:
Of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful
Similar:
lawful; rightful; true (having a legally established claim)
left-handed; morganatic ((of marriages) of a marriage between one of royal or noble birth and one of lower rank; valid but with the understanding that the rank of the inferior remains unchanged and offspring do not succeed to titles or property of the superior)
lawfully-begotten (born in wedlock; enjoying full filial rights)
Also:
legal (established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules)
authorised; authorized (endowed with authority)
valid (well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force)
Antonym:
illegitimate (of marriages and offspring; not recognized as lawful)
Meaning:
Based on known statements or events or conditions
Synonyms:
legitimate; logical
Context example:
rain was a logical expectation, given the time of year
Similar:
valid (well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force)
Meaning:
In accordance with recognized or accepted standards or principles
Context example:
legitimate advertising practices
Similar:
constituted; established (brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established)
Meaning:
Authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law
Synonyms:
licit; legitimate; lawful
Context example:
a legitimate government
Similar:
legal (established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules)
• LEGITIMATE (verb)
Meaning:
Make legal
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
legitimize; legitimise; legitimatize; legitimatise; legitimate; legalize; legalise; decriminalize; decriminalise
Context example:
Marijuana should be legalized
Hypernyms (to "legitimate" is one way to...):
allow; countenance; let; permit (consent to, give permission)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "legitimate"):
monetise; monetize (give legal value to or establish as the legal tender of a country)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Show or affirm to be just and legitimate
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "legitimate" is one way to...):
justify; vindicate (show to be right by providing justification or proof)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Make (an illegitimate child) legitimate; declare the legitimacy of (someone)
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
They legitimized their natural child
Hypernyms (to "legitimate" is one way to...):
alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
