[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/legitimate/)

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# legitimate

adjective (legitimate); verb (legitimate, legitimates, legitimated — rare, formal)

«legitimate» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Allowed by law or by the rules; fair and proper. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#m1)
2. Reasonable and fair: a legitimate reason, a legitimate question. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#m2)
3. Real and honest, not fake: a legitimate business, a legitimate website. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#m3)
4. (old use) Born to parents who were married to each other. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#m4)
5. (slang, «legit») Really, truly, or great: «That was legit funny.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#m5)

### In the lessons

In everyday life a «legitimate reason» for being late is a good, true one. In safety lessons a «legitimate website» or message is a real one, not a scam — checking if something is legitimate protects you from tricks. In formal exam language it means «properly allowed». Slang «legit» is short for it.

### Examples

- Feeling ill is a legitimate reason to miss a match. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#x1)
- That's a legitimate question, and I'll answer it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#x2)
- Check that the shop is legitimate before you pay online. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#x3)
- The fake email looked legitimate, but it was a trick. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#x4)
- He is the legitimate owner of the bicycle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#x5)
- The referee said it was a legitimate goal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#x6)
- That skateboard trick was legit amazing! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#x7)
- Is this offer legit or a scam? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#x8)
- He had not flown far, however, when he came across a dog who, having met the sausage, had regarded him as his legitimate booty, and so seized and swallowed him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/#x9)

### Note

Say it le-JIT-i-mut. Opposite: illegitimate. Adverb: legitimately. «Legit» is slang and too casual for an essay. A legitimate goal or move is one the rules allow. The old sense about children of unmarried parents is old-fashioned and can hurt; avoid it.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «legitimate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/legitimate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«legitimate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/legitimate.html) on Mova free.