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Legitimate

A person born to a legally married couple.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Legitimate"

noun

1
A person born to a legally married couple.

verb

1
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

1
In accordance with the law or established legal forms and requirements.
2
Conforming to known principles, or established or accepted rules or standards; valid.
"legitimate reasoning; a legitimate standard or method"
3
Authentic, real, genuine.
"legitimate poems of Chaucer; legitimate inscriptions"
4
Lawfully begotten, i.e., born to a legally married couple.

🔄 Synonyms of "Legitimate"

13 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
established	Having been in existence for a long time and therefore recognized and generally accepted.
valid	Acceptable, proper or correct; in accordance with the rules.
logical	Reasonable.
morganatic	Designating a marriage (or the wife involved) between a man of higher rank and a woman of lower rank, often having various legal repercussions (typically that such a wife has no claim on the husband's possessions or title). It was not an aspect of English law, but was common in other royal houses, especially in Germany.
lawfulnoun	(law) Conforming to, or recognised by the laws of society.
legalnoun	Relating to the law or to lawyers.
licit	Not forbidden by formal or informal rules.
legitimizeverb	(transitive) To make legitimate.
legitimatizeverb	(transitive) To make legitimate.
left-handednoun	Using one's left hand in preference to, or more skillfully than, one's right.
decriminalizeverb	(transitive) To change the laws so something is no longer a crime.
legalizeverb	To make legal or permit under law. Either by decriminalising something that has been illegal or by specifically permitting it.
lawfully-begotten	born in wedlock; enjoying full filial rights

↔️ Antonyms of "Legitimate"

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
illegitimatenoun	Not in accordance with the law.
outlawnoun	A fugitive from the law.
criminalizeverb	(transitive) To make (something) a crime; to make illegal under criminal law; to ban.
illegalizeverb	To make illegal; to prohibit by law, to criminalize.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Legitimate"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
lawful	(law) Conforming to, or recognised by the laws of society.
legitimatizeverb	(transitive) To make legitimate.
legitimizeverb	(transitive) To make legitimate.
valid	Acceptable, proper or correct; in accordance with the rules.
legal	Relating to the law or to lawyers.
rightful	By right; by law.
true	(of a statement) Conforming to the actual state of reality or fact; factually correct.
logical	Reasonable.
morganatic	Designating a marriage (or the wife involved) between a man of higher rank and a woman of lower rank, often having various legal repercussions (typically that such a wife has no claim on the husband's possessions or title). It was not an aspect of English law, but was common in other royal houses, especially in Germany.
establishedverb	Having been in existence for a long time and therefore recognized and generally accepted.
legalizeverb	To make legal or permit under law. Either by decriminalising something that has been illegal or by specifically permitting it.
decriminalizeverb	(transitive) To change the laws so something is no longer a crime.
left-handed	Using one's left hand in preference to, or more skillfully than, one's right.
licitnoun	Not forbidden by formal or informal rules.
lawfully-begotten	born in wedlock; enjoying full filial rights
legally	As permitted by law; not contrary to law.
legalitynoun	Lawfulness.
legitimacynoun	The quality or state of being legitimate or valid; validity.
eligible	Allowed to and meeting the necessary conditions required to participate in or be chosen for something
authorised	Alternative spelling of authorized. [Explicitly allowed.]