adjective

1. conceived or born of parents legally married to each other
2. 1. sanctioned by law or custom; lawful a legitimate claim
   2. conforming to or abiding by the law
3. ruling by the rights of heredity a legitimate king
4. 1. reasonable; logically correct a legitimate inference
   2. justifiable or justified
5. conforming to or in accordance with established rules, standards, principles
6. Theater designating or of professionally produced stage plays, as distinguished from films, vaudeville, etc.

Etymology: ML legitimatus, pp. of legitimare, to make lawful < L legitimus, lawful < lex: see legal

transitive verb legitimated -·mat′ed, legitimating -·mat′·ing