Synonyms for legitimate
lɪˈdʒɪt ə mɪt; -ˌmeɪtle·git·i·mate

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. legitimate

   That is authentic which is true to the facts; that is genuine which is true to its own claims; as, authentic history; genuine money.

   A 'genuine' work is one written by the author whose name it bears; an 'authentic' work is one which relates truthfully the matters of which it treats. For example, the apocryphal Gospel of St. Thomas is neither 'genuine' nor 'authentic.' It is not 'genuine,' for St. Thomas did not write it; it is not 'authentic,' for its contents are mainly fables and lies.

   Trench On the Study of Words lect. vi, p. 189. [W. J. Widdleton]

   Authentic is, however, used by reputable writers as synonymous with genuine, tho usually where genuineness carries a certain authority. We speak of accepted conclusions, certain evidence, current money, genuine letters, a legitimate conclusion or legitimate authority, original manuscripts, real value, received interpretation, sure proof, a true statement, a trustworthy witness, a veritable discovery.

   Synonyms:
   accepted, accredited, authentic, authoritative, authorized, certain, current, genuine, original, real, received, reliable, sure, true, trustworthy, veritable

   Antonyms:
   apocryphal, baseless, counterfeit, disputed, exploded, fabulous, false, fictitious, spurious, unauthorized

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. legitimate

   Synonyms:
   allowable, normal, fair, licit, real, genuine, fairly deduced, lawfully begotten

   Antonyms:
   illegitimate, unallowable, unfair, illicit

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. legitimateadjective

   of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful

   Synonyms:
   licit, logical, lawful

   Antonyms:
   unlawful, illegal, left-handed, fatherless, bastardly, wrongful, baseborn, invalid, unestablished, spurious, base, misbegot, adulterine, illegitimate, misbegotten

2. legitimate, logicaladjective

   based on known statements or events or conditions

   "rain was a logical expectation, given the time of year"

   Synonyms:
   coherent, consistent, ordered, licit, lucid, logical, lawful

   Antonyms:
   misbegotten, unestablished, left-handed, unlawful, spurious, base, illegitimate, illegal, misbegot, bastardly, invalid, baseborn, adulterine, wrongful, fatherless

3. legitimateadjective

   in accordance with recognized or accepted standards or principles

   "legitimate advertising practices"

   Synonyms:
   licit, logical, lawful

   Antonyms:
   left-handed, illegal, base, unlawful, misbegot, wrongful, fatherless, adulterine, bastardly, spurious, misbegotten, baseborn, unestablished, invalid, illegitimate

4. lawful, legitimate, licitverb

   authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law

   "a legitimate government"

   Synonyms:
   rule-governed, lawful, licit, logical, rightful(a), true(a)

   Antonyms:
   base, fatherless, left-handed, baseborn, misbegot, wrongful, illegal, misbegotten, spurious, unlawful, adulterine, bastardly, illegitimate, unestablished, invalid

5. legalize, legalise, decriminalize, decriminalise, legitimize, legitimise, legitimate, legitimatize, legitimatiseverb

   make legal

   "Marijuana should be legalized"

   Synonyms:
   legitimize, legalise, decriminalize, decriminalise, legitimise, legalize, legitimatise, legitimatize

   Antonyms:
   illegal, misbegot, fatherless, illegitimate, adulterine, left-handed, unestablished, baseborn, base, unlawful, invalid, spurious, misbegotten, wrongful, bastardly

6. legitimateverb

   show or affirm to be just and legitimate

   Synonyms:
   legitimize, legalise, decriminalize, decriminalise, legitimise, legalize, legitimatise, legitimatize

   Antonyms:
   illegitimate, base, misbegot, invalid, fatherless, spurious, baseborn, misbegotten, wrongful, illegal, left-handed, bastardly, unlawful, unestablished, adulterine

7. legitimateverb

   make (an illegitimate child) legitimate; declare the legitimacy of (someone)

   "They legitimized their natural child"

   Synonyms:
   legitimize, legalise, decriminalize, decriminalise, legitimise, legalize, legitimatise, legitimatize

   Antonyms:
   misbegotten, baseborn, fatherless, misbegot, illegitimate, spurious, wrongful, unestablished, adulterine, illegal, left-handed, unlawful, bastardly, invalid, base

Matched Categories

1. • Change
   • Justify

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. legitimateadjective

   Synonyms:
   legal, lawful, in accordance with law

2. legitimateadjective

   Synonyms:
   born in wedlock, lawfully begotten

3. legitimateadjective

   Synonyms:
   genuine, not spurious

4. legitimateverb

   Synonyms:
   legalize, make legitimate

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. legitimateadjective

   Synonyms:
   lawful

   Antonyms:
   illegitimate

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "legitimate":

   lawful, rightful, licit, justified, legal, justifiable, legitimacy, reasonable, forensic, valid, legally, legitimated, legit, well-founded

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How to use legitimate in a sentence?

1. Vincent DeVito:

   On its merits, the claim is legitimate.

2. John Roberts:

   If Supreme Court doesn't retain Supreme Court legitimate function of interpreting the Constitution, i'm not sure who would take up that mantle. You don't want the political branches telling you what the law is, and you don't want public opinion to be the guide of what the appropriate decision is.

3. Mike Pompeo:

   Our nations must stand up for the rule of law and support the leader who the Venezuelan people have affirmed as their legitimate interim president.

4. Neama Rahmani:

   I can’t think of any legitimate reason for the delay in arresting Griffin, especially when the adoptive mother was arrested in August 2020, even if he were cooperating, it would usually be post-arrest and indictment.

5. Carl Tobias:

   It sounds to me like the judge is leaning toward the House and favoring a broad claim to investigate and conduct oversight generally and Trump's business dealings specifically, scholars and courts have said Congress has broad oversight authority and Trump's apparent use of his office to profit is a legitimate focus of inquiry.