legitimate
adjective
uk
/ləˈdʒɪt.ə.mət/ us
/ləˈdʒɪt̬.ə.mət/The army must give power back to the legitimate government.
C2
reasonable and acceptable:
He claimed that the restaurant bill was a legitimate business expense.
- Her passport seemed legitimate, but on closer inspection, it was found to have been altered.
- They complained about excessive government intrusion into their legitimate activities.
- Legitimate refugees should be treated with compassion.
- Her complaints were quite legitimate.
- He has a legitimate claim to the money.
- bang to rights idiom
- bootleg
- chargeable
- concealed carry idiom
- controverted election
- criminally
- illegality
- improper
- legality
- legitimately
- licensed
- licit
- licitly
- non-criminal
- shady
- treasonable
- unlawful
- unsanctioned
- validity
- validly
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
to make something legal or acceptable:
The government fears that talking to terrorists might legitimate their violent actions.
Synonym
legitimize formal
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