legitimate

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le|giti|mate /lɪdʒ'ɪtɪmət/
1 [ADJ]
Something that is legitimate is acceptable according to the law.
The government will not seek to disrupt the legitimate business activities of the defendant.
● legitimacy [N-UNCOUNT] usu with supp
The opposition parties do not recognise the political legitimacy of his government.
● legitimately [ADV] ADV with v
The government has been legitimately elected by the people.
2 [ADJ]
If you say that something such as a feeling or claim is legitimate, you think that it is reasonable and justified.
That's a perfectly legitimate fear...
The New York Times has a legitimate claim to be a national newspaper.
● legitimacy [N-UNCOUNT] usu with supp
As if to prove the legitimacy of these fears, the Cabinet of Franz von Papen collapsed on December 2.
● legitimately [ADV] ADV with v
They could quarrel quite legitimately with some of my choices.
3 [ADJ]
A legitimate child is one whose parents were married before he or she was born.
We only married in order that the child should be legitimate.
≠ illegitimate

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