Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a legitimate manner; lawfully; according to law; genuinely; not falsely.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a legitimate manner; lawfully; genuinely.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a legitimate manner, properly.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a lawfully recognized manner
  • adverb in a manner acceptable to common custom

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

legitimate +‎ -ly

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word legitimately.

Examples

  • If the University of Toronto had been so minded, it could have exploited insulin -- legitimately from the business point of view -- in all countries in the world and have secured a revenue which would have paid all the expenses of educating the 10,000 students in the University for the life of the patents.

    The Advance of Medical Research 1953

  • It doesn't matter how many Sydney clubs may or may not have been over the cap, we were the ones who got caught, we got punished now we have to move on and win the title legitimately this year.

    NEWS.com.au | Top Stories 2011

  • The two first exert you, by their zeal in the royal art, to follow the sublime road of which Solomon was the institutor, and Hiram of Tyre, the "supporter;" a title legitimately due to that king, who not only protected the order, but contributed with all his might to the construction of the temple (furnishing stone from Tyre, and the cedars of Lebanus) which Solomon built to the honor of the Almighty.

    The Mysteries of Free Masonry Containing All the Degrees of the Order Conferred in a Master's Lodge William Morgan

  • In my time there were indeed but three genuine Oratorians to whom this title legitimately belonged; in 1814 they all left the college, which had gradually become secularized, to find occupation about the altar in various country parishes, like the cure of Mer.

    Louis Lambert Honor�� de Balzac 1824

  • Obama is right, if you cant explain legitimately why your opposing something useful and needed, then what do we send our representatives to Washington for?

    Obama challenges reform detractors to explain themselves 2009

  • No matter where you buy your iPhone, the only way to use it legitimately is on the AT&T network, which requires a two-year contract.

    The $199 iPhone? Something’s Missing From the Picture - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com 2008

  • No matter where you buy your iPhone, the only way to use it legitimately is on the AT&T network, which requires a two-year contract.

    The $199 iPhone? Something’s Missing From the Picture - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com 2008

  • It's a shame that Hillary knows she can't win legitimately, so she's now playing the race card.

    Clinton touts support from 'white Americans' 2008

  • In videotaped admissions of people who have stolen from retail stores and resold the product on eBay, for example, thieves often tell the same disturbing story: They begin legitimately selling product on eBay and then become “hooked” by its addictive qualities, the anonymity it provides, and the ease with which they gain exposure to millions of customers.

    Battle Over Stolen Goods Sold Online Goes to Washington - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com 2008

  • In videotaped admissions of people who have stolen from retail stores and resold the product on eBay, for example, thieves often tell the same disturbing story: They begin legitimately selling product on eBay and then become “hooked” by its addictive qualities, the anonymity it provides, and the ease with which they gain exposure to millions of customers.

    Battle Over Stolen Goods Sold Online Goes to Washington - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com 2008

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.