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legitimate

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Definition of legitimate

adjective

Pronunciation: /lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət/

1conforming to the law or to rules:his claims to legitimate authority
(of a child) born of parents lawfully married to each other: a legitimate male heir
(of a sovereign) having a title based on strict hereditary right: the last legitimate Anglo-Saxon king

2able to be defended with logic or justification; valid:a legitimate excuse for being late

3constituting or relating to serious drama as distinct from musical comedy, revue, etc.:the legitimate theatre

verb

Pronunciation: /lɪˈdʒɪtɪmeɪt/

[with object]

make lawful or justify:the regime was not legitimated by popular support

Derivatives

legitimately
legitimation
legitimatization
legitimatize

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'born of parents lawfully married to each other'): from medieval Latin legitimatus 'made legal', from the verb legitimare, from Latin legitimus 'lawful', from lex, leg- 'law'

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Other

legitimate

adjective

verb

Derivatives

legitimately

legitimation

legitimatization

legitimatize

Origin:

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legitimate in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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