legitimize
verb
le·git·i·mize
li-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz 
legitimized; legitimizing
: to make legitimate : legitimate
Examples of legitimize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
By accepting money from fossil fuel companies, sports organizations legitimize their actions in the eyes of their supporters, thereby perpetuating the climate crisis.
—
Vitas Carosella, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024
Thus, settlers legitimized their cause by portraying themselves as followers of Israel’s founding fathers.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2024
Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, legitimized their criminal intent, by furthering their non-Muslim names.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Sep. 2024
This likely means that season 2 could show Toranaga further consolidating his power and legitimizing his shogunate with Edo, modern-day Tokyo, as his stronghold.
—Yasmeen Hamadeh, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for legitimize 
Vitas Carosella, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024
Thus, settlers legitimized their cause by portraying themselves as followers of Israel’s founding fathers.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2024
Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, legitimized their criminal intent, by furthering their non-Muslim names.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Sep. 2024
This likely means that season 2 could show Toranaga further consolidating his power and legitimizing his shogunate with Edo, modern-day Tokyo, as his stronghold.
—Yasmeen Hamadeh, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for legitimize
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legitimize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near legitimize
Cite this Entry
“Legitimize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legitimize. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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Legal Definition
legitimize
transitive verb
le·git·i·mize
lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmīz
legitimized; legitimizing
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