legitimate

Bridgezipf 4.22

Pronunciation

/lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət/(lih-JIT-ih-mut)

Part of speech

adjective / verbneutral

Chinese

合法的；正当的；合理的

Definition

Conforming to the law or rules; reasonable and acceptable.

Word family

  • legitimacy/lɪˈdʒɪtɪməsi/(n)合法性
  • legitimize/lɪˈdʒɪtɪmaɪz/(v)使合法化
  • illegitimate/ˌɪlɪˈdʒɪtɪmət/(adj)不合法的

Collocations

  • legitimate concern
  • legitimate business
  • legitimate reason
  • legitimate claim

Examples

  1. 1.Is that a legitimate excuse for missing the meeting? (valid)
  2. 2.The election was free and its result is legitimate. (legal)

Synonyms

  • valid/ˈvælɪd/— well-grounded, logical
  • lawful/ˈlɔːfʊl/— strictly legal
  • justifiable/ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪəbl/— can be defended with reasons

Etymology

from Latin "legitimus" = lawful — "lex" = law