adjective
- conceived or born of parents legally married to each other
- sanctioned by law or custom; lawful: a legitimate claim
- conforming to or abiding by the law
- ruling by the rights of heredity: a legitimate king
- reasonable; logically correct: a legitimate inference
- justifiable or justified
- conforming to or in accordance with established rules, standards, principles
- Theater designating or of professionally produced stage plays, as distinguished from films, vaudeville, etc.
Origin:
ML legitimatus, pp. of legitimare, to make lawful < L legitimus, lawful < lex: see legal
transitive verb legitimated, legitimating
legitimize (esp. sense )