legitimate

[li-jit-uh-mit, li-jit-uh-meyt] / lɪˈdʒɪt ə mɪt, lɪˈdʒɪt əˌmeɪt /

ADJECTIVE

authentic, valid, legal

Synonyms

STRONGEST

appropriate certain consistent correct fair genuine justifiable lawful logical natural normal proper real reasonable reliable rightful sensible statutory true well-founded

STRONG

accepted accredited acknowledged authorized good-faith received recognized sanctioned sound warranted

WEAK

admissible canonical cogent customary innocent just licit official on the level on the up and up orthodox probable regular sure typical usual verifiable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abnormal affected counterfeit deceptive dishonest false illegal illegitimate improper incorrect invalid irrational irregular uncommon unconventional unfitting unreal unreasonable unreliable unsuitable untrustworthy

WEAK

unlawful unwarranted

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"This is not about prosecuting a legitimate criminal case," Eliason said in a Substack post.

From Barron's • May 9, 2026

In some cases lenders were posing as legitimate loan firms, but when we started asking questions about what would happen if we were late repaying, we were told it "would add interest".

From BBC • May 7, 2026

More legitimate consultancies put hostage negotiators together with information-technology experts and insurers to offer personalized crisis-response services.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

McKinney said he will be able to discern legitimate lawsuits against the city from “losing” cases “almost immediately,” something he argued Feldstein Soto has failed at.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

On the contrary, he had at least three legitimate ways of rising, the greatest of which was the Catholic Church.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Vocabulary lists containing legitimate

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