legitimate

1.

/ləˈʤɪtəmət/

in accordance with accepted standards or principles

2.

/lɪˈdʒɪtəˌmeɪt/

show or affirm to be just

Other forms: legitimated; legitimates; legitimating

Something legitimate is the real deal — according to the law.

Legitimate has other variations of meaning. To legitimate something is to make it legal, either by passing a law or publicly recognizing it as in accordance with the law. A government can be legitimized by being invited to world talks, or a movie by winning a prestigious award.

Definitions of legitimate (/ləˈʤɪtəmət/)

1. adjective

   in accordance with recognized or accepted standards or principles
   “legitimate advertising practices”

   synonyms:

   constituted, established

   brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
2. adjective

   based on known statements or events or conditions
   synonyms: logical

   valid

   well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force
3. adjective

   authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law
   “a legitimate government”

   synonyms: lawful, licit

   legal

   established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules
4. adjective

   of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful
   synonyms:

   authorised, authorized

   endowed with authority

   legal

   established by or founded upon law or official or accepted rules

   lawfully-begotten

   born in wedlock; enjoying full filial rights

   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

   lawful, rightful, true

   having a legally established claim

   valid

   well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force

   antonyms:

   illegitimate

   of marriages and offspring; not recognized as lawful

   unauthorised, unauthorized

   not endowed with authority

   illegal

   prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules

   adulterine

   conceived in adultery

   base, baseborn

   illegitimate

   bastardly, misbegot, misbegotten, spurious

   born out of wedlock

   fatherless

   not having a known or legally responsible father

   left-handed

   (of marriages) illicit or informal

   unlawful, wrongful

   having no legally established claim

   invalid

   having no cogency or legal force