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legitimate

le·git·i·mate

legitimate

 
 
parts of speech:
adjective, transitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (adjective, verb), Word Parts
part of speech: adjective
pronunciation: lih jI t miht
definition 1: in accordance with the law or rules (used especially when the breaking of laws or rules is suspected).
Upon investigation, it was found that these were legitimate business dealings.He was shown to be the legitimate heir to the throne.
synonyms:
lawful, legal, licit
antonyms:
illegal, illegitimate, illicit
similar words:
de jure, fair, right, rightful, true, valid
definition 2: valid, justified, or deserved.
She had to admit that it was a legitimate criticism.
 
synonyms:
fair, justified, valid, warranted, well-founded
antonyms:
ill-founded, unjustified, unwarranted
similar words:
genuine, true
definition 3: based on accepted standards or principles.
These are legitimate and widely used testing procedures.
synonyms:
appropriate, correct, fitting, proper, seemly, suitable
antonyms:
illegitimate
similar words:
applicable, canonical, fair, natural, right
definition 4: born to married parents.
The king had two sons but neither was legitimate.
antonyms:
illegitimate
definition 5: in accordance with the rules of logic; reasonable.
a legitimate inference
synonyms:
believable, logical, rational, reasonable, sound, tenable, valid, well-founded
antonyms:
arbitrary, illegitimate
similar words:
cogent, coherent, credible, fair, plausible, right
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: transitive verb
pronunciation: l jI t meIt
inflections: legitimates, legitimating, legitimated
definition: to legitimize, esp. to deem (a child born out of wedlock) to be legitimate.
synonyms:
legitimatize, legitimize
antonyms:
illegitimate
similar words:
acknowledge, name, recognize
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: legitimately (adv.), legitimateness (n.), legitimation (n.)
Word PartsSubscriber feature About this feature