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Legitimate: Definition, Usage, and Common Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：lawful (legitimate)
legitimate
/lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət/
adj.
Allowed or accepted by the law, official rules, or authority.
lawful
➕
/ˈlɔːfəl/
adj.
Officially recognized as being in accordance with the law or established rules.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'legitimus' (lawful), from 'lex' (law).
💡 Mnemonic
Legitimate = LEG + IT + MATE – imagine your LEGal IT mate always plays by the rules.
📖 Example
To open a restaurant here, you need a legitimate business license from the city government.
In order to start a restaurant at this location, one must obtain a business license that is recognized as lawful by the city government.
🔗 Collocations
legitimate interest – A lawful or justifiable reason or stake.
legitimate concern – A reasonable and valid worry.
legitimate business – A commercial activity that complies with the law.
🔄 Synonyms
legal (adj.) – Permitted by law.
lawful (adj.) – Conforming to or permitted by law.
authorized (adj.) – Having official permission or approval.
🚫 Antonyms
illegal (adj.) – Forbidden by law.
unlawful (adj.) – Not conforming to or permitted by law.
illegitimate (adj.) – Not authorized by the law; not valid.
🌱 Derivatives
legitimately (adv.) – In a lawful or valid manner.
legitimacy (n.) – The quality of being lawful or valid.
legitimize (v.) – To make lawful or valid.
📖 Cultural Story
Derived from Latin 'legitimus', meaning lawful or according to law. The word has been used in English legal contexts since the 15th century, later extended to general usage for anything considered valid or acceptable.
Meaning 2：reasonable (legitimate)
legitimate
/lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət/
adj.
Fair, reasonable, and acceptable. A good reason that makes sense to most people.
reasonable
➕
/ˈriːzənəbl/
adj.
Based on good sense or logic; fair and justifiable.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
You have a legitimate concern about the project deadline; it is indeed very tight.
Your worry regarding the project's deadline is understandable and justified; the timeline is truly quite compressed.
🔗 Collocations
legitimate concern – A worry that is reasonable and well-founded.
legitimate question – A query that is fair and deserves an answer.
legitimate expectation – An anticipation that is justified based on circumstances.
🔄 Synonyms
reasonable (adj.) – Fair and sensible.
justifiable (adj.) – Capable of being shown to be right or reasonable.
valid (adj.) – Having a sound basis in logic or fact.
🚫 Antonyms
unreasonable (adj.) – Not based on good sense or logic.
unjustifiable (adj.) – Not able to be shown to be right or reasonable.
invalid (adj.) – Not logically or factually sound.
🌱 Derivatives
legitimately (adv.) – In a lawful or valid manner.
legitimacy (n.) – The quality of being lawful or valid.
legitimize (v.) – To make lawful or valid.
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