Definition of legitimate

< legitimacy

legitimatize >

le·git·i·mate    (l-jt-mt) KEY 

ADJECTIVE:

1. Being in compliance with the law; lawful: a legitimate business.
2. Being in accordance with established or accepted patterns and standards: legitimate advertising practices.
3. Based on logical reasoning; reasonable: a legitimate solution to the problem.
4. Authentic; genuine: a legitimate complaint.
5. Born of legally married parents: legitimate issue.
6. Of, relating to, or ruling by hereditary right: a legitimate monarch.
7. Of or relating to drama of high professional quality that excludes burlesque, vaudeville, and some forms of musical comedy: the legitimate theater.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
le·git·i·mat·ed, le·git·i·mat·ing, le·git·i·mates (-mt)

To make legitimate, as:

1. To give legal force or status to; make lawful.
2. To establish (a child born out of wedlock) as legitimate by legal means.
3. To sanction formally or officially; authorize.
4. To demonstrate or declare to be justified.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English legitimat, born in wedlock, from Medieval Latin lgitimtus, law-worthy, past participle of lgitimre, to make lawful, from Latin lgitimus, legitimate, from lx, lg-, law; see leg- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
le·giti·mate·ly(Adverb), le·giti·mate·ness(Noun), le·giti·mation(Noun), le·giti·mator  (-mtr) KEY (Noun)