Definition of LEGITIMATE

legitimate

Meanings

Plural: legitimates

Verb

  • make legal
  • show or affirm to be just and legitimate
  • make (an illegitimate child) legitimate; declare the legitimacy of (someone)
  • To make legitimate, lawful, or valid; especially, to put in the position or state of a legitimate person before the law, by legal means.

Adjective

  • of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful

Adjective Satellite

  • based on known statements or events or conditions
  • in accordance with recognized or accepted standards or principles
    • "legitimate advertising practices"
  • authorized, sanctioned by, or in accordance with law
    • "a legitimate government"

Adj

  • In accordance with the law or established legal forms and requirements.
  • Conforming to known principles, or established or accepted rules or standards; valid.
  • Authentic, real, genuine.
  • Marital.
  • Lawfully begotten, i.e. born to a married couple or later legitimated.
  • Marital.
  • Legally married.
  • Relating to hereditary rights.
  • Belonging or relating to the legitimate theater.

Noun

  • A person born to a legally married couple.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English legitimat, legytymat, from Medieval Latin lēgitimātus, perfect passive participle of Latin lēgitimō (“to make legal”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from Latin lēgitimus (“lawful”), originally "fixed by law, in line with the law," from Latin lēx (“law”). Originally "lawfully begotten".
The noun was derived from the adjective within English or earlier by substantivization (see -ate (noun-forming suffix)), the verb from the adjective by conversion (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)).

Scrabble Score: 13

legitimate is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
legitimate is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
legitimate is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

legitimate is a valid Words With Friends word