/ lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət; NAmE / adjective
1.
for which there is a fair and acceptable reason
SYN valid , justifiable :
a legitimate grievance
It seemed a perfectly legitimate question.
Politicians are legitimate targets for satire.
2.
allowed and acceptable according to the law
SYN legal :
the legitimate government of the country
Is his business strictly legitimate?
OPP illegitimate
3.
( of a child ) born when its parents are legally married to each other
OPP illegitimate
► le·git·im·acy / lɪˈdʒɪtɪməsi; NAmE / noun [ U ]:
the dubious legitimacy of her argument
I intend to challenge the legitimacy of his claim.
► le·git·im·ate·ly adverb :
She can now legitimately claim to be the best in the world.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense born of parents lawfully married to each other ): from medieval Latin legitimatus made legal, from the verb legitimare , from Latin legitimus lawful, from lex , leg- law.