Synonyms of legitimate

legitimate 1 of 2

adjective

li-ˈji-tə-mət 

as in legal

permitted by law

the mistrust created among investors by the financial scandal has hurt even companies engaged in wholly legitimate business practices

Synonyms & Similar Words

• legal
• justifiable
• lawful
• authorized
• legit
• regulation
• licit
• allowable
• good
• constitutional
• permissible
• proper
• statutory
• noncriminal
• right
• warrantable
• innocent
• just
• de jure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• illegal
• illegitimate
• unlawful
• illicit
• wrongful
• wrong
• bad
• criminal
• evil
• corrupt
• immoral
• wicked
• guilty
• sinful
• prohibited
• unauthorized
• forbidden
• unjust
• impermissible
• lawless
• iniquitous
• unconstitutional
• reprobate
• outlawed
• banned
• under-the-table
• under-the-counter
• nonconstitutional

legitimate

2 of 2

verb

as in to legitimize

Synonyms & Similar Words

• legitimize
• validate
• sanction
• privilege
• warrant
• qualify
• authorize
• license
• enable
• entitle
• approve
• endorse
• empower
• indorse
• certificate
• licence
• permit
• enfranchise
• let
• certify
• ratify
• charter
• accredit
• allow
• reaccredit
• reapprove
• revalidate
• recertify
• recharter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• invalidate
• nullify
• disable
• delegitimize
• forbid
• disqualify
• proscribe
• disallow
• disenfranchise
• disempower
• decertify

Synonym Chooser

How is the word legitimate different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of legitimate are lawful, legal, and licit. While all these words mean "being in accordance with law," legitimate may apply to a legal right or status but also, in extended use, to a right or status supported by tradition, custom, or accepted standards.

a perfectly legitimate question about taxes

When is it sensible to use lawful instead of legitimate?

The synonyms lawful and legitimate are sometimes interchangeable, but lawful may apply to conformity with law of any sort (such as natural, divine, common, or canon).

the lawful sovereign

When can legal be used instead of legitimate?

While in some cases nearly identical to legitimate, legal applies to what is sanctioned by law or in conformity with the law, especially as it is written or administered by the courts.

legal residents of the state

In what contexts can licit take the place of legitimate?

Although the words licit and legitimate have much in common, licit applies to a strict conformity to the provisions of the law and applies especially to what is regulated by law.

the licit use of drugs by doctors

Examples of legitimate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Building trust within the medical community and among patients will be essential for fostering wider acceptance of cannabinoids as legitimate treatment options. —Calvin Rasode, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024

The White House spokesman warned that the North Korean military, known as the Korean People’s Army, entering the conflict as belligerents would make its soldiers a legitimate target of Ukrainian strikes. —Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Oct. 2024

Verb

The Eurasian Observatory of Elections and Democracy, which had previously helped to legitimate elections in Transnistria, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia, also invited the PVV to join; however, Wilders declined to participate. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 Feb. 2024

This would help send an additional $1 billion to legitimate artists on the platform, the company added. —Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2023