Definition
Something legitimate is allowed by the rules, recognized by authority, or simply real rather than faked. A legitimate government holds power by lawful means; a legitimate question is a fair one worth answering; a legitimate business is the genuine article, not a front. The word stretches from strict legality to plain authenticity, but the core is constant: it stands up to scrutiny and is not arbitrary, forged, or merely pretended.
Examples
- A claim becomes legitimate in science only once its authors can substantiate it with evidence others reproduce.
- The election was widely accepted as legitimate, and the new government took office without protest.
- She had a legitimate reason for missing the deadline, so no penalty was applied.
Collocations
a legitimate concern·legitimate authority·a legitimate business·perfectly legitimate·a legitimate claim
Synonyms
lawful·valid·genuine·rightful·authentic
Antonyms
illegitimate·arbitrary·fraudulent
Word family
legitimacy (noun)·legitimately (adverb)·legitimize (verb)
In TOEFL & IELTS
Common in TOEFL/IELTS reading on politics, law, and business. Two senses to track: 'lawful/authorized' (a legitimate ruler) and 'reasonable/valid' (a legitimate concern). In Writing, 'a legitimate concern is…' is a strong way to concede a point before answering it. Don't confuse it with 'legible' (readable). The verb legitimize means to make something accepted as legitimate.