legitimate
Within the rules
Legitimate means lawful, sanctioned, or conforming to rules and standards.
A legitimate claim has legal validity.
A legitimate business operates within the law.
The word extends to anything genuine or reasonable: a legitimate concern, a legitimate question.
A legitimate child is born to married parents—the opposite of illegitimate.
In casual speech, legitimate often shortens to legit: That's totally legit.
To legitimize something is to make it acceptable or lawful.
Permitted by statute
- licitSanctioned by law
- statutoryEstablished by enacted law
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
- sanctionedFormally approved or penalized
authorized · official · codified · enforceable · compliant · regulatory · jurisdictional · permissible
Given official permission
- empoweredGiven power to act
- sanctionedFormally approved or penalized
- officialAuthority-sanctioned person or status
- accreditedOfficially authorized or recognized
licensed · chartered · commissioned · deputized · mandated · delegated · vested · entitled
Properly justified or sanctioned
- deservedRightfully earned or warranted
- meritedRightfully earned or warranted
- appropriateSuited to circumstance
- fairImpartial and unbiased
equitable · defensible · excusable · vindicated · justifiable · earned · fitting · proper
Audible wave phenomenon
- logicalBased on valid reasoning
- coherentLogically connected throughout
- reasonableShowing sound judgment
- rationalGoverned by logic
defensible · substantiated · credible · convincing · compelling · plausible · well-founded · tenable
Truly what it claims
- realTruly existing, not fake
- trueAccurate or loyal
- bona fideAuthentic and sincere
- veritableTruly what's claimed
original · certified · verified · unadulterated · unaltered · actual · undisputed · authenticated
Having rightful claim
- hereditaryPassed through generations
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- heirOne who receives legacy
- successionFollowing in order
inheritance · lineage · dynastic · sovereign · claimant · pretender · successor · ancestry
lawful
Permitted by statute
- licitSanctioned by law
- statutoryEstablished by enacted law
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
sanctioned · authorized · official · codified · enforceable · compliant · regulatory · jurisdictional · permissible · allowable
authorized
Given official permission
- empoweredGiven power to act
- sanctionedFormally approved or penalized
- officialAuthority-sanctioned person or status
accredited · licensed · chartered · commissioned · deputized · mandated · delegated · vested · entitled · credentialed
warranted
Properly justified or sanctioned
- deservedRightfully earned or warranted
- meritedRightfully earned or warranted
- appropriateSuited to circumstance
fair · equitable · defensible · excusable · vindicated · justifiable · earned · fitting · proper · suitable
sound
Audible wave phenomenon
- logicalBased on valid reasoning
- coherentLogically connected throughout
- reasonableShowing sound judgment
rational · defensible · substantiated · credible · convincing · compelling · plausible · well-founded · tenable · cogent
genuine
Truly what it claims
veritable · original · certified · verified · unadulterated · unaltered · actual · undisputed · authenticated · credentialed
entitled
Having rightful claim
- hereditaryPassed through generations
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- heirOne who receives legacy
succession · inheritance · lineage · dynastic · sovereign · claimant · pretender · successor · ancestry · descendant
- reputationreputation, reputable, bad reputation, repute, disreputable
- authenticgenuine, real, true, bona fide, veritable
- authenticityauthentic, genuine, real, fake, counterfeit
- Authentic Itemsoriginal, authentic, real thing, genuine leather, sterling silver
- establishedestablished, recognized, accepted, acknowledged, confirmed
- genuine thingsgenuine, authentic, verified, truth, honesty
legitimateillegal
Forbidden by statute
illicit · unlawful · illegitimate · criminal · lawless
legitimatefraudulent
Involving intentional dishonesty
counterfeit · fake · false · bogus · phony
legitimateunjustified
Lacking adequate reason
invalid · unwarranted · unfounded · baseless · groundless
- legitimate heirLawfully entitled inheritor
- legitimate theaterLive dramatic stage productions
- legitimate childOffspring of a marriage
- legitimacy crisisDoubt in rightful rule
- legitimate authorityAccepted right to command
- legitimate theatreLive dramatic performance venue
illegitimate, legitimacy, legitimately, illegitimacy, legitimated, legitimating, legitimates, legitimation, illegitimately