legitimately
62
3.7
- adverb
- /lɪˈdʒɪtɪmətli/
:
legalmente
- In a growing number of cases, such schools can legitimately claim responsibility for fostering talent.
- legitimately apply the law
- legitimately elected government
- legitimately represent the people
These are questions that I think people can legitimately disagree over.
- These are questions that I think people can legitimately disagree over.
- Mercy is one of the ways in which it's legitimately translated.
Examples
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He wants to ensure that all the documents are filed legitimately according to the regulations.
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And I'll work for him in any way that I legitimately can.
-
Again, they could legitimately claim that they tried it the direct way and it did not work.
Academic text (1998) -
These are questions that I think people can legitimately disagree over.
-
The results were elections that were fair enough that no side could legitimately renounce the results.
Academic text (1994) -
One could legitimately ask here, "Why package the book as a souvenir at all?"
Academic text (2013) -
Recent estimates indicate that over one million older persons live in what could legitimately be called assisted-living facilities.
Academic text (1997) -
Some people might legitimately argue that the two systems, secondary and post-secondary, should retain their distinct characters.
Academic text (2008) -
But to counterbalance all that, I also found you peppy, charming, and legitimately funny.
Fiction book (2002) -
People of different political viewpoints may legitimately respond to this presentation with policy prescriptions that are in polar opposition.
Academic text (1997)
Synonyms
421
2.8
In a way that the law allows
72
3.7
In a fair and legal way
39
2.5
In a way that the law allows
2
4.8
According to the law or what is fair
2
3.9
In a way that the law accepts or that follows the right rules
1
8.2
In a way that follows the law
In a way that rules or the law allow
Antonyms
How Legal
Surface Forms
Morphology
legitimately = legitimate (transparent) = legitimate + ly
The adverb is formed by adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'legitimate', yielding a clear meaning 'in a lawful or proper way'.
Etymology
Legitimately comes from the Latin word legitimus, meaning 'lawful', and is related to the familiar word legal and to 'law'. So, to act legitimately is to do something 'according to the law' or in a proper, allowed way.